Solvay has appointed Ilham Kadri as its new CEO, effective from Mar. 1, 2019. Kadri, who is presently CEO and president of US hygiene technology and services company Diversey, will join Solvay on Jan. 1 and spend two months transitioning alongside incumbent CEO, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu.

Kadri has previously worked at Shell-Basell, UCB-Cytec, Huntsman and Rohm Haas-Dow Chemical. More recently, she led Diversey’s spin-off from Sealed Air to private equity group Bain Capital in 2017. She is also board member at A.O. Smith, leading global manufacturer and supplier of water heating equipment based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

“Her knowledge of our strategic markets, strongly customer-focused mindset, her capacities to build a galvanising vision make her the leader that the group needs to accelerate its cultural transformation and unleash its growth potential,” said Nicolas Boel, chairman of Solvay’s board of directors. According to the Belgian chemicals company, "Kadri reflects Solvay's recent journey as a leading company with advanced material and specialty chemicals innovative product portfolio and sustainable solutions to address next-generation mobility and improve resource efficiency".

Clamadieu is leaving the Belgian chemicals group to take up a new position as chairman of French gas and power group Engie.