Solvay announces Bernard de Laguiche's decision to end his 26-year career at Solvay of which 7 years as Group Chief Financial Officer and has appointed Karim Hajjar as his successor. Bernard de Laguiche, a Brazilian and French national, wishes to pursue his personal interests in Brazil. He will stay on at Solvay as a non-executive Board Member.
"I thank Solvay and its stakeholders for my wonderful 26 years with the Group, having been closely involved in several significant transformations that have made Solvay even stronger. I am glad to still be part of Solvay and to be able to contribute to the Group's development as a non-executive Board Member while at the same time making a new start in Brazil," said Bernard de Laguiche.
Karim Hajjar will succeed Bernard de Laguiche as CFO and join Solvay's Executive Committee on October 1.
Before joining Solvay, Karim Hajjar, 50 and a British national, was Director Finance and Planning at Imperial Tobacco Group Plc. In his first job, he became a partner at Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants which he joined in 1984. He moved on to Royal Dutch/Shell where between 1995 and 2004 he was amongst others deputy CFO of Shell Chemicals. Karim Hajjar was CFO of Tarmac Group from 2005 to 2009 and its managing director until 2010.
"Bernard has been a key contributor in where Solvay is today and has played a major role in the reshaping of the Group," said Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pierre Clamadieu. "We wish Bernard all the best in his new endeavours. Meanwhile, it is a pleasure to welcome Karim. His extensive financial and operational know-how across various industries and his international experience will be highly valuable for Solvay's ongoing transformation."
