Moroccan-Born Solvay CEO Tops Belgium’s Highest-Paid Executives List at €17.3 Million

Who is the best-paid CEO in Belgium in 2023? According to the ranking published by the newspapers L’Écho and De Tijd, the best-paid boss is the Moroccan Ilham Kadri, CEO of Solvay, with 17.3 million euros. Her exceptional compensation is due to the recognition of her leadership and commitment to the company, but also her ability to anticipate market challenges and successfully navigate a complex economic environment. The Solvay Board of Directors is keen to "commend the years of exceptional performance at the head of the group" of Ilham Kadri "in a very volatile environment marked by a context of high inflation, major geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainties".

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Ilham Kadri was born on February 14, 1969 in Casablanca. She was raised by her grandmother. With a high school diploma in hand, she entered the scientific preparatory class in Besançon, continued her studies at the Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 before going to Canada where she studied at Laval University. In 1991, the young Ilham pursued studies in the fields of polymer physics and chemistry at the European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials in Strasbourg. Six years later, she obtained a doctorate and became a doctor of macromolecular physical chemistry. Her skills opened several doors for her: Royal Dutch Shell and UCB in Belgium, LyondellBasell in France, the American companies Huntsman Corporation, Rohm and Haas, and Dow Chemical Company, etc. In March 2019, she was propelled to the head of the Belgian chemical group Solvay. Her management will be the most productive: Solvay is positioning itself as a major player in the field of clean technologies and sustainable development.

Since December 2023, Ilham Kadri has been the CEO of the new company, Syensqo created following the split of Solvay into two separate listed entities: Solvay and Syensqo. Now, she "is focusing on innovation and the development of new technologies, thus opening up new perspectives" for this company - which deals with materials and specialty chemicals - and its shareholders.