2008-2023

In only 15 years, from 2008 to 2023, the Group achieved an intense transformation of its profile. The divestment of the pharma business and the acquisition of Rhodia in 2010-2011 kicked off a radical process of metamorphosis into an Essentials AND a Specialties company. 

Creating a world scale pure player

In 2009, Solvay sold its pharmaceutical activities to Abbott and reinvested the proceeds to friendly takeover the French chemical company Rhodia. Rhodia brought strengths in the consumer goods, automotive, and rare earths markets. In 2012, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, Rhodia’s CEO, succeeded Christian Jourquin. It marked the first time in Solvay’s history that the company would be led by a CEO who had built his career outside the company. 

Solvay underwent a breakthrough transformation between 2012 and 2017, and becoming more sustainable, profitable, innovative, specialized, and global.

Becoming a major player in composites for a cleaner mobility

The acquisition of the American company Cytec in 2015 was the largest ever, necessitating the first capital increase since the transformation of Solvay into a public company in 1967. This deal with a composite technologies and mining chemicals company enabled Solvay to further positioned itself as a leader in lightweighting materials for large customers in the aerospace and automotive industries. 

An impulse for "green" innovation

Between 2004 and 2016 Solvay has been a primary sponsor of the Solar Impulse project, led by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. The goal was to build an airplane that could fly around the world, day and night, using only solar energy. Solvay contributed extensively to the development through its research efforts, and its fluoropolymers and engineering plastics for batteries, photovoltaic cells, and lightweight constructive parts. 

New leadership delivers faster transformation

In 2018, Solvay announced the nomination of Ilham Kadri as its first female CEO. In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Solvay strongly believes that diversity of genders, cultures, but also of perspectives and experiences is a key asset for ensuring its permanent re-invention. 

In less than three years, between 2019 and 2022, Solvay transformed itself into a more customer oriented and performance focused business, reaching the ambitious targets of its G.R.O.W. strategy two years in advance and its One Solvay transformation program aimed at simplification, good-to-great operations, and growth. 

Company-wide commitment to reinventing progress

With the launch of Solvay One Planet in 2020 and Solvay One Dignity in 2021, Solvay also raised the bar on its Environmental, Social, and Governance commitments. The Group developed an ambitious roadmap on climate, resources and better life dimensions, including carbon neutrality, circularity, sustainable solutions for its customers, diversity, equity and inclusion, and more. It also launched a Solidarity Fund providing relief and assistance to people suffering hardship. 

On top of its regular business units, Solvay created four growth platforms to drive innovation in highly demanded areas: batteries, thermoplastic composites, green hydrogen and renewable and bio materials. These transversal platforms are designed to meet market needs driven by megatrends such as electrification, lightweighting and eco-based solutions… a concrete way to reinvent progress!

Visual identity evolves

Over 160 years, the visual identity of Solvay evolved quite softly, with its arrow symbolizing the precipitation of soda ash into the Solvay column. Unveiled in January 2013, the Group's new logo was a visible sign of its transformation. An update was made in 2020 to express the “bonding that enables Solvay to progress beyond”.