Moroccan CEO Ilham Kadri Named Among Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Globally

Several reasons justify the Moroccan’s presence on this list. "Kadri has quickly done the job of overhauling the 157-year-old Belgian chemicals company she has chaired since last March. After conducting the largest listening exercise ever undertaken by Solvay - involving some 24,000 employees in more than 60 countries - she has reoriented the company’s $12.6 billion business by prioritizing sustainable and circular products," says the American magazine.

Fortune notes that Ms. Kadri has also improved Solvay’s finances through very appreciated cost control efforts. "Although Covid-19 has hit the company hard - leading to plant closures, layoffs and reduced customer demand in the aerospace and oil and gas sectors - Solvay has also participated in the pandemic response, manufacturing hand sanitizers and the materials that go into everything from diagnostics to PPE," it adds.

"I often feel that my story is used as an anecdote - and if that inspires more women to pursue a career in chemistry, then I’m happy," the Moroccan writes on her LinkedIn page. "But fortunately, things are changing. At Solvay for example, we are committed to achieving gender parity in our workforce and in senior leadership by 2035."