Ilham Kadri is a French-Moroccan senior executive and former scientist. Since March 1, 2019, she has been the CEO, chairwoman of the Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of Solvay, a company dealing with advanced materials and speciality chemicals based in Belgium.
In 1997, Kadri joined Royal Dutch Shell as a Development and Technical Service Manager in Belgium – where she was part of a team that invented a synthetic bottle stopper made from a foamed thermoplasticelastomer to prevent the spread of fungi and bacteria from cork stoppers to stored liquids. This led to a position with LyondellBasell in France, working in Sales and Global Key Account Management. During her time in this role, Kadri negotiated large automotive contracts, especially in France, Latin America and Japan.
2002-2005
In 2002, Kadri took on a Product Management and Marketing role at UCB in Belgium. She co-lead the creation of the division innovation processes, and joined Cytec as a result of the chemical business divestiture.
In 2007, Kadri moved into the post of Marketing Director at Rohm and Haas, in its paint, coatings and construction businesses; staying with the company until its buy-out by Dow Chemical Company in 2009. She then became General ManagerMiddle East and Africa for all its Advanced Materials division and the Commercial Director EMEA for Dow Water and Process Solutions, working to expand the company infrastructure and bring environmentally friendly downstream manufacturing into the region. A major success for Kadri at Dow Chemical was the negotiation and construction launch of the first reverse osmosis membrane manufacturing for sea water desalination in Saudi Arabia.
From 2013, Kadri was a Senior Vice President and Officer for Sealed Air Corporation, taking on the role of President for the company's hygiene and cleaning business, Diversey Care. On arriving at Diversey Care, Kadri was tasked with the turnaround of falling sales and profits, which saw her lead reforms of the service division. She was also a key figure in Diversey Care focusing on a strategy of technological innovation. This includes the launch of the first global range of commercial cleaning robots across the US and Europe, and a digital food safety management platform that helps organizations to achieve regulatory compliance in the food industry. Originally based in the Netherlands, Kadri relocated to Sealed Air's new corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, when it opened in 2015. In early 2016, Kadri became Sealed Air's Digital Leader, responsible for Internet of Things integration across the entire company – focusing on the IS digital architecture, external ecosystems acquisitions, digital monetisation and robotics. In 2017, Kadri was named President & CEO of Diversey as part of its acquisition by Bain Capital.
March 2019-present
Ilham Kadri became CEO of Solvay. Her appointment was announced in October 2018.
