Syensqo Executive Leadership Team
Syensqo’s Executive Leadership Team brings decades of global experience in advanced materials across multiple industrial sectors. It ensures the company is set up to deliver the best-in-class science and technologies needed to advance humanity through the energy transition and into a low-carbon future.
The Executive Leadership Team gives shape to the strategy, steers the Group’s business portfolio, and protects the Group’s interest. It also makes sure everything is in place to achieve our vision to outgrow the market and deliver strong returns through customer-driven innovation.
The Executive Leadership Team collectively is in charge of Syensqo’s overall performance, enabling us to achieve our long-term value creation goals and meet financial targets.
Meet our Executive Leadership Team Members
Dr. Ilham Kadri, 55, serves as Chief Executive Officer, as Chair of the Executive Leadership Team, and as member of the Board of Directors of SYENSQO since December 2023. Prior to this, she served as CEO and Chair of the Executive Committee at Solvay from 2019 until 2023. Ms. Kadri has successfully led the turnaround of Solvay, delivering double-digit EBITDA growth and 18 consecutive quarters of positive free cash flow, deleveraging the balance sheet and promoting superior people engagement. She is an Independent Board member at A.O. Smith and L’Oréal. She is active in non-profit organizations, as Chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), member of the steering committee of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) as well as a permanent member of the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council (WEF). Ms. Kadri has extensive leadership experience across a variety of industries in four continents and with leading industrial multinationals, including Shell, UCB, Huntsman, Dow, Sealed Air. Prior to Solvay, she was CEO and President of Diversey in the USA, led the company’s return to profitability and resulting spin off and divestiture to Bain Capital. She founded two non-Profit foundations: the Solvay Solidarity Fund in Belgium in 2020 which supported more than 7000 families affected by Covid-19 and natural disasters; and founded the ISSA Hygieia Network in 2015 in the USA, to help women in the cleaning industry. She received two Doctor Honoris Causa from EWHA University in Korea and Université de Namur in Belgium.
Christopher Davis, serves as Chief Financial Officer at SYENSQO since December 2023. Prior to this, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at Orica Limited from 2013 until 2023. He brings over 20 years of leadership and management experience within large complex multinational organizations in the natural resources & mining, industrial and chemicals sectors. Prior to joining SYENSQO, Mr. Davis served in multiple leadership roles at Anglo American PLC, including Chairman & CEO of the Scaw Metals Group, CFO of Scaw Metals Group and Head of Business Analysis and Reporting of Anglo Platinum Limited. He has extensive M&A experience and has overseen a number of large, complex financial transactions. Mr. Davis has a track record of improving financial performance and strengthening balance sheets. He has also led the successful implementation of financial aspects of SAP across 50+ countries. At Orica, Mr. Davis developed and executed on a ‘net zero by 2050’ sustainability strategy and roadmap.
Hervé Tiberghien, serves as Chief Operations Officer & Chief People Officer at SYENSQO. Prior to this, he served as Chief People Officer and member of the Executive Leadership Team at Solvay from 2019 until 2023. At Solvay, he has been responsible for building an inclusive culture across the organization, while focusing on driving individual and organizational growth. He has a strong background in both HR and industrial operations, and previously served in a number of operational and HR roles at PPG Industries, including Chief Human Resources Officer and Vice President of Human Resources. His previous industrial positions include Director of Industrial Coatings facilities at PPG and EMEA, as well as Quality Director and Plant Director for automotive glass manufacturing operations at AGC in Belgium.
Marc Chollet serves as Chief Strategy Officer of SYENSQO since December 2023. Prior to this, he served as Chief Strategy Officer and a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Solvay from 2021 until 2023 where he was instrumental in upgrading the Group’s business portfolio, driving more than 100 transformational M&A transactions. He joined Solvay through its acquisition of Rhodia in 2011, where he had served as Deputy General Manager of Strategy, Marketing and Sales since 2007 and as a member of the Executive Committee. Before that, Mr. Chollet led several regional businesses at the Rohm & Haas Group in Agrochemicals, Plastic and Coating additives. Mr. Chollet began his career at Lesieur Alimentaire in the international business development department before being appointed as head of the division and later as Director of International Development and member of the Board of Management of the Consumer Goods division of the Group Eridania Beghin-Say.
Brian Belanger will serve as General Counsel of SYENSQO, starting in June 2025. Prior to this, he served as General Counsel at Husqvarna Group from 2015 until 2025. He joined Husqvarna in 2006 and worked there for over 15 years, serving as Vice President for Legal Affairs responsible for all legal matters in the APAC region from 2009 to 2015. Mr. Belanger began his career by completing a judicial clerkship with the US Federal Courts in Washington, D.C.. He spent his early career working for major US law firms, specializing in M&A and related transactional work. He has extensive international experience across the US, Asia and Europe, which includes working on over 100 M&A deals and enhancing corporate governance frameworks. He is a graduate of Duke University School of law, where he received both a law degree (J.D.) and a Master’s degree (LL.M) in international law.
