Name: Nadège Petit
New title: CEO of Veolia North America
Previous title: Chief innovation officer, Schneider Electric
Veolia North America has named Nadège Petit its new CEO effective December 1, a move meant to advance the company’s expansion plans in North America.
Petit, who has a background in international business development and innovation, will help Veolia North America identify growth opportunities in the region, according to a news release.
Petit previously served as chief innovation officer of Schneider Electric, where she helped develop technologies and business models through partnerships, business incubators, investments and joint ventures, according to the release.
Veolia describes itself as the largest private operator and technology provider in the U.S. water sector. It also provides a range of hazardous waste and pollution treatment services.
VNA aims to achieve 50% growth in North America in coming years. So far, it’s done that mainly through a series of facility investments and acquisitions, including $350 million in deals announced earlier this year.
Those deals included two Massachusetts-based companies, New England Disposal Technologies and New England MedWaste. VNA also acquired California-based Ingenium, which provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste management services.
Additionally, Veolia has invested in its U.S. PFAS treatment sector, recently opening a $35 million plant in Delaware as part of a larger goal to develop more than 100 PFAS treatment sites in the U.S. as part of it BeyondPFAS service.
Petit’s role as CEO comes after a few months of leadership changes in Veolia’s North American sector. Sébastien Daziano, Veolia’s senior vice president of strategy, innovation and development, has been serving as VNA’s interim CEO for several months. Outgoing CEO Frédéric Van Heems, who took on the role in 2021, said he had been asked to step down, but did not specify why.
Prior to serving as chief innovation officer at Schneider Electric, she was executive vice president of the company’s Power Products division, where she managed Schneider Electric’s low-voltage power business globally.
Petit has served in various other leadership roles at that company for the last 20 years, including in operational and managerial roles in Europe, Hong Kong and the United States.
Petit also serves on the supervisory board of E.ON SE, a major European energy company, and is a member of its innovation and sustainability committee.
“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,” said Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia’s CEO, in a statement.
As part of Petit’s new role, she will also join Veolia’s executive committee.
“I look forward to working with our North American teams to drive innovation, growth, operational excellence, and expand our services,” she said in a statement.
