Who is the highest paid CEO in Belgium in 2023? According to the ranking published by newspapers The Echo And De Tijd, the best paid boss is the Moroccan Ilham Kadri, CEO of Solvay, with 17.3 million euros. She owes her exceptional compensation 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 would like to “welcome 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” .
To read: Moroccan Ilham Kadri among the most powerful women in the world
Ilham Kadri was born on February 14, 1969 in Casablanca. She was raised by her grandmother. With a baccalaureate in hand, she entered a scientific preparatory class in Besançon, continuing her studies at Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University before going to Canada where she studied at Laval University. In 1991, the young Ilham studied 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 in macromolecular physical chemistry. His skills opened several doors for him: 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 promoted to head of the Belgian chemicals group Solvay. Its management will be the most productive: Solvay positions itself as a major player in the field of clean technologies and sustainable development.
Read: Moroccan Ilham Kadri appointed CEO of Solvay, a group worth 10 billion euros
Since December 2023, Ilham Kadri has been the general director of the new company, Syensqo created following the split of Solvay into two separate listed entities: Solvay and Syensqo. From now on, it “focuses on innovation and the development of new technologies, thus opening new perspectives” for this company – which deals with materials and specialty chemicals – and its shareholders.
