Sulzer AG (SUN.EB) said Friday Chief Executive Ton Buechner will leave in the fourth quarter to take the top post at paint and coatings company Akzo Nobel NV (AKZA.AE).

Winterthur, Switzerland-based Sulzer said the search for a new CEO will start immediately.

-By Katharina Bart, Dow Jones Newswires; +41 43 443 8043; katharina.bart@dowjones.com