Moroccan-Born Executive Nadia Bothorel Named CEO of C&A France

Arrived in France to pursue her studies at the business school in Montpellier, Nadia convinced the school principal to open a specialization in distribution. At the time, only she and three students were enrolled. But the Moroccan had discovered her penchant for DIY when she decided to assemble the furniture in her first apartment. A passion confirmed at Leroy Merlin where she did an internship, then at Castorama which also offered her an internship and even a job, reports Le Figaro.

Nadia turned down this offer. Her dream was to work at Ikea. "Once a year, I would drive four hours round trip to go to Marseille, buy the items I had spotted in the catalog," she says. The Swedish giant finally recruited her in 1998. Assigned to the Ikea Paris Nord store in Roissy (Val-d’Oise), the Moroccan quickly climbed the ranks, becoming in 2006 a supervisor for the training of managers, before being appointed to head stores in Lyon, from 2009 to 2013. Then appointed deputy director of the French subsidiary, she joined in 2017 an Ikea innovation development program.

At 44 in 2019, she had completed 21 years of service at Ikea and felt the need to change course, environment. "It was a Cornelian dilemma. I deeply loved my company, but I aspired to nourish myself intellectually differently." This is how she became a coach for executives. An exciting experience that she recounts in her book "Dare your leadership" published by Gereso Editions. After four years of independent consulting, she has just landed at C&A as CEO. Nadia wants to support the growth plan of this ready-to-wear brand where she says she notes values like respect and humility, also dear to Ikea.