Solvay today announced several senior leadership appointments in its Silica and Special Chem businesses.
Effective October 1, 2026 :
Adam Days has been appointed GBU President Silica.
Stéphane Diaz has been appointed General Manager Rare Earth.
Ziad Haddad has been appointed General Manager Fluorine.
The appointments follow the decision of An Nuyttens, GBU President Silica & Special Chem, to take a new opportunity outside Solvay.
“These appointments reflect the depth of leadership talent within Solvay and our commitment to giving each business the strategic focus needed to continuously deliver for our customers and strengthen our business,” said Philippe Kehren, Chief Executive Officer of Solvay. “I warmly congratulate Adam, Stéphane and Ziad as they take on these new responsibilities, and I would also like to thank An for her outstanding contribution to Solvay over the past 35 years.”
Leadership appointments
Adam Days is a seasoned global business leader with more than 30 years of experience in the chemical industry. He joined Rhodia in 1994, before its acquisition by Solvay, and has since built deep expertise across the Silica business, spanning manufacturing, HSE, commercial leadership, R&I and sustainability. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership roles in the U.S. and Germany, with global and regional responsibilities across EMEA, North America and major international customers. Most recently, he served as Business Director for Silica, leading commercial, R&I and sustainability activities. His career reflects broad operational and customer-facing experience, strong team leadership, and a consistent focus on advancing business priorities and supporting growth within Solvay.
Stéphane Diaz is an experienced business leader with deep expertise in specialty chemicals, strategic marketing, new business development and innovation. Currently Global Business Director Rare Earth, he brings extensive commercial, strategy and R&I experience across Solvay, Rhodia and BASF. His career combines strong market insight, technical understanding and a proven ability to connect customer needs, innovation priorities and growth opportunities to support business performance.
Ziad Haddad is an experienced general manager and global business leader with a strong track record in the chemicals industry. Currently Global Business Director for Fluorine at Solvay, he brings broad international experience across North America and Asia, together with deep expertise in business development, product management, market strategy and commercial leadership. Over his career, he has held senior roles spanning fluorine, electronic chemicals, soda ash and derivatives, sales and marketing, account management and technical service.
Contacts
Solvay, a pioneering chemical company with a legacy rooted in founder Ernest Solvay's pivotal innovations in the soda ash process, is dedicated to delivering essential solutions globally through its workforce of over 8,400 employees. Since 1863, Solvay has harnessed the power of chemistry to create innovative, sustainable solutions that answer the world’s most essential needs such as purifying the air we breathe and the water we use, preserving our food supplies, protecting our health and well-being, creating eco-friendly clothing, making the tires of our cars more sustainable and cleaning and protecting our homes. Solvay’s unwavering commitment drives the transition to a carbon-neutral future by 2050, underscoring its dedication to sustainability and a fair and just transition. As a world-leading company with €4.3 billion in net sales in 2025, Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (SOLB). For more information about Solvay, please visit solvay.com or follow Solvay on Linkedin.