Solvay Launches New Step in Transformation to Better Serve Customers

Solvay SA is taking a new step in its transformation, putting its customers at the core of its organization to enhance its long-term growth as an advanced materials and speciality chemicals company.

Solvay announced plans to simplify its organization that needs to be adapted to its portfolio which is now strongly focused on high-performance materials and tailored solutions, as well as to its changing customer base. 

More specifically, the project would result in:

A more agile organization to support customer needs 

Solvay will simplify processes and tasks to focus teams on customers. Allowing them to faster anticipate and better respond to their demands. Solvay will keep its decentralized model whereby its global business units are responsible for developing their own strategic plans and implement them with the support of the Group.

Stronger research & innovation capabilities in Lyon and an expanded R&I scope in Brussels

In France, Solvay plans to upgrade its largest global research site in Lyon to a centre for advanced chemistry mid the region’s dynamic innovation ecosystem. In Belgium, the expansion of R&I in advanced materials science would coincide with plans to revamp the Brussels headquarters, fostering collaboration among employees and with partners.

Relocation from Aubervilliers and Paris to Lyon and Brussels

As a consequence, Solvay plans to relocate its Aubervilliers and nearly all of its Paris activities to Lyon and to a lesser extent to Brussels, concentrating R&I into these centres.

The company launched the relevant information/consultation procedures with employee representatives. These procedures should be completed by the end of June. It is committed to supporting employees throughout this transformation while limiting job losses as much as possible. 

The simplification of the organization should lead to about 600 net redundancies, mainly in functional activities, including 160 in France, 90 in Portugal and 80 in Brazil. Natural turnover, voluntary leave and internal repositioning will help mitigate these impacts. 

The concentration of the R&I and support activities would involve the transfer to Lyon and Brussels, over four years, of about 500 employees who can rely on comprehensive support from the group to help them relocate.

An indication of the consequences of Solvay’s financial performance over the next three years will be provided with first-quarter earnings.

“This new step in Solvay’s transformation centres on better serving our customers. Over the past six years, we built a business portfolio to generate superior and sustainable growth. Now we need to follow through and drastically simplify our organization and processes as well as align all our resources. This will allow Solvay to provide differentiated experiences for customers and maximize value for the group,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay.