Veolia appoints CEO of North America zone

Veolia, headquartered in Paris, has appointed Nadège Petit as CEO of the company’s North America zone, effective Dec. 1.

Petit has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the fields of energy, new technologies and business development and will join Veolia’s executive committee. She holds master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration, serves on the supervisory board of Germany-based E.ON SE and is a member of its innovation and sustainability committee.

At Schneider Electric, based in France, Petit oversaw business and research development, sales and marketing efforts in Europe, Hong Kong and the U.S. Most recently, Petit served as the company’s chief innovation officer and as a member of the global executive committee. Previously, she served as executive vice president of the power products division.

“I look forward to working with our North American teams to drive innovation, growth, operational excellence and expand our services — delivering impact for the environment, our clients and our shareholders,” Petit says.

Veolia aims to expand its geographic footprint in the U.S., where the company currently is the largest private operator and technology provider in the water sector and a leader in the hazardous waste and pollution treatment sectors.

“North America is a cornerstone of Veolia’s global growth strategy, and I'm happy that we can reinforce our leadership team at this pivotal moment of acceleration of our activities," Veolia CEO Estelle Brachlianoff says. “With her business development track record and her strong background in global energy and resilience solutions, Nadège will bring her dynamism to drive profitable and innovative growth in this key region, meeting strong demand driven by megatrends such as the relocation of strategic industries, water shortages, pollution treatment and public health concerns.”