Quick Facts
Biography
Dr. Ilham Kadri is the President and CEO of Diversey, and a Senior Vice President at Sealed Air Corporation. She is widely recognized as a strong advocate for female literacy and women in business, as well as being a passionate advocate for sustainability and tackling the issue of water scarcity across the world.
Education
Kadri grew up in Casablanca, Morocco, majoring in mathematics and physics at college. She then travelled to France to study physics, chemistry and mathematics at a Higher School Preparatory Class. In 1990, Kadri embarked on a Masters course in Physics and Chemistry, splitting her studies between Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 and Université Laval, Quebec.
After becoming a Master of Physics and Chemistry In 1991, Kadri moved to the European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials Science (ECPM) of Strasbourg to take up studies in Chemical Engineering in the field of Polymer Physics and Chemistry. Two years later, in 1993, she began her PhD in Physics and Chemistry – gaining her doctorate in 1997.
Based on her Moroccan upbringing, Kadri describes education as her 'third exit'. This comes from a popular Moroccan saying, recited to her by her grandmother, which suggests that 'girls have two exits in their lives – one to their husband's home, and the second one to the grave'. Kadri's grandmother urged her to find a third exit, which she found in the form of education.
Career
1997-2002
In 1997, Kadri joined Royal Dutch Shell as a Development and Technical Service Manager in Belgium – where she was part of a team that invented a synthetic bottle stopper made from a foamed thermoplastic elastomer to prevent the spread of fungi and bacteria from cork stoppers to stored liquids.
This led to a position with LyondellBasell in France, working in Sales and Global Key Account Management. During her time in this role, Kadri negotiated large automotive contracts globally, especially in France, Latin America and Japan.
2002-2005
In 2002, Kadri took on a Product Management and Marketing role at UCB in Belgium. She co-lead the creation of the division innovation processes, and joined Cytec as a result of the chemical business divestiture.
2005-2007
From 2005, Kadri joined Huntsman Corporation as a Strategic Planning and Marketing Director of the global Epoxy business, and led its divestiture to private equity.
2007-2013
In 2007, Kadri moved into the post of Marketing Director atRohm and Haas, in its paint, coatings and construction businesses; staying with the company until its buy-out by Dow Chemical Company in 2009. She then became General Manager Middle East and Africa (MEA) for all its Advanced Materials division and the Commercial Director EMEA for Dow Water and Process Solutions, working to expand the company infrastructure and bring environmentally friendly downstream manufacturing into the region.
During her tenure at Dow Chemical, Kadri established a new customer base in MEA, built a new waterborne coatings plant in Dubai, oversaw expansion to new territories (Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria) and developed a series of strategic water projects in Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Israel, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. She also worked to tackle water scarcity across the Middle East and the rest of the world – in particular reducing the energy consumption needed to recycle water and encouraging businesses to take advantage of techniques to reuse waste water.
A major success for Kadri at Dow Chemical was the negotiation and construction launch of the first reverse osmosis (RO) membrane manufacturing for sea water desalination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – replacing the country's first-generation thermal desalination technology. The new Dow plant introduced sustainable RO technology aimed at combating water shortages, reducing maintenance and energy costs, and reducing CO2 emissions.
2013-Present
Since 2013, Kadri has been a Senior Vice President and Officer for Sealed Air Corporation, taking on the role of President for the company’s hygiene and cleaning business, Diversey Care. This sees her responsible for driving the global business strategy, and the division profit and loss, while managing product innovation and maintaining a focus on sustainability.
On arriving at Diversey Care, Kadri was tasked with the turnaround of falling sales and profits, which saw her lead reforms of the service division. Since then, Kadri has successfully made and integrated three merger and acquisition deals, introduced the first digital cleaning solution to the industry and invented the Internet of Clean (IoC).
She has also been a key figure in Diversey Care focusing on a strategy of technological innovation. This includes the launch of the first global range of commercial cleaning robots across the US and Europe, and a digital food safety management platform that helps organizations to achieve regulatory compliance in the food industry.
Originally based in the Netherlands, Kadri relocated to Sealed Air’s new corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, when it opened in 2015.
In early 2016, Kadri became Sealed Air’s Digital Leader, responsible for Internet of Things (IoT) integration across the entire company – focusing on the IS digital architecture, external ecosystems acquisitions, digital monetization and robotics.
In August 2017, Kadri was named President and CEO of Diversey as part of a move to make the company a standalone entity from Sealed Air – along with its acquisition by Bain Capital.
Board memberships
As well as her roles within Sealed Air, Kadri serves as a board member for numerous organizations. She is a board member at A.O. Smith Corporation (and a member of the audit committee); the Founder and Chairwoman of the ISSA Hygieia Network; an advisory board member of Catalyst in the USA; and an advisory board member of Leading Executives Advancing Diversity (LEAD) in Europe for the Retail sector.
The ISSA Hygieia Network
In November 2014, Kadri founded the not-for-profit ISSA Hygieia Network (IHN), alongside other female cleaning industry executives. Open to ISSA members of any gender, the IHN hosts a range of events with the purpose of developing female professionals of all levels and experience. It is a worldwide community committed to providing ongoing education, networking, professional development and recognition for any woman connected with the global cleaning industry.
It runs a scholarship programme that provides academic support for students looking to pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, management, finance, human resources, procurement or other approved programmes.
The IHN also hosts an annual awards event that recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to the cleaning industry that fulfil one or more of the IHN’s goals and objectives.
Recognition
Throughout her career, Kadri has committed herself to mentoring young women, and fighting female illiteracy. She has won a number of awards for this.
In 2016, she won four silver Awards at the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, including Female Executive of the Year (Business Products – More than 2,500 Employees), Maverick of the Year (Industry), Women Helping Women in Business, and Woman of the Year (Industry).
Kadri was recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal Women in Business Awards as a 2016 winner.
In June 2017, she won two Women World Awards – Gold for Women Helping Women category and the Bronze award for Female Executive of the Year.
Personal life
Kadri resides in North Carolina with her husband, and is the proud mother of one child.