We believe that materials have been a key element in furthering the progress of mankind, that they are at the core of today’s life and will continue to be enablers for future wealth creation. We believe that metal-related materials have a vital role to play, as they can be efficiently and infinitely recycled, which makes them the basis for sustainable products and services. We want Umicore to be a leader in providing and creating material-based solutions to contribute to fundamental improvements in the quality of life.
Our Horizon 2020 economic growth ambitions are tied to the megatrends of resource scarcity, clean air and vehicle electrification. The social and environmental objectives are clustered in three themes: Great Place to Work, Eco-efficiency and Value Chain and society. These objectives reflect our operational excellence and the aspects of our products and services that we can further improve to turn sustainability into a greater competitive edge.
Download the report to read more about our Management Approach and Governance.
Executive committee
Left to right: Stephan Csoma, Géraldine Nolens, Denis Goffaux, Marc Grynberg, Ralph Kiessling, Filip Platteeuw, An Steegen.
Belgian, 54
Education
Commercial Engineering – Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management, Belgium
Experience
Marc Grynberg was appointed Chief Executive Officer in November 2008 after heading the Automotive Catalysts business unit from 2006 to 2008, and serving as CFO of Umicore from 2000 until 2006. He joined Umicore in 1996 as Group Controller. Prior to joining Umicore, Marc worked for DuPont de Nemours in Brussels and Geneva.
Belgian, 47
Education
Applied Economics – Ghent University, Belgium
Financial Management – Vlerick Management School, Belgium
Experience
Filip Platteeuw was appointed Chief Financial Officer in November 2012, after serving as VP of Corporate Development from 2010 to 2012. He joined Umicore in 2004 and was instrumental in the Cumerio spin-off in 2005, and then led the project team for the creation of Nyrstar and its successful IPO in 2007. Filip has extensive experience in investment banking, corporate banking and equity research with KBC Bank.
Belgian, 49
Education
PhD in Material Science and Electrical
Engineering – KU Leuven, Belgium
Experience
An Steegen joined Umicore and was appointed Chief Technology Officer in October 2018, after serving as Executive Vice President Semiconductor Technology and System R&D at imec, a leading research center with a focus on nanoelectronics and digital technology innovation. Prior to joining imec in 2010, An worked at IBM’s Semiconductor Research & Development center in Fishkill, NY and in the last several years of service at IBM, was in charge of the bulk CMOS technology development.
Belgian, 48
Education
Master of Laws – University of Chicago Law School, USA
European Economic Law – Julius Maximilians Universität Würzburg, Germany
Law – KU Leuven, Belgium
Experience
Géraldine Nolens was appointed Chief Counsel for the Group in 2009 and joined the Executive Committee in 2015. She started her career at the international law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton before joining GDF Suez (now Engie) in 2001, where she was Electrabel’s Chief Legal Officer for Southern Europe, France and new European markets. Géraldine’s career includes periods working and living in the US, Germany, Italy and Belgium.
Belgian, 51
Education
Mining Engineering – Université de Liège,
Belgium
Experience
Denis was appointed Executive Vice-President Energy & Surface Technologies in 2018, after serving as Chief Technology Officer from 2010 to September 2018 and EVP for Precious Metals Refining from 2015 to 2018. Prior to that, he occupied successive business line and country management functions in China and Japan. Denis began his career at Umicore with Research & Development in Olen, before moving to what was then our Cobalt & Energy Products Business Unit.
Belgian, 55
Education
Economics – UC Louvain, Belgium
Mandarin – Fudan University Shanghai, China
Experience
Stephan Csoma was appointed Executive Vice-President Recycling in 2015, after serving as EVP of the former Performance Materials from 2012 to 2015, SVP Government Affairs from 2009 to 2012, and SVP South America from 2005 to 2009. Stephan joined Umicore in 1992 and set up Umicore’s first industrial operations in China in the mid-1990s and went on to lead the Zinc Chemicals business unit.
German, 54
Education
Chemical Engineering – University of Erlangen, Germany
Experience
Ralph Kiessling was appointed Executive Vice-President Catalysis on 1 February 2019, after serving as Senior Vice President Operations for Automotive Catalysts since 2015. He previously occupied successive management functions in process technology, production and business controlling, including 5 years in China. In 2012 he moved to India where he built Umicore’s automotive catalyst plant. Prior to joining Umicore, Ralph held management positions in the Degussa group from 1995.
