Isabelle Kocher, born on December 9, 1966 (58 years old) in France, is the former CEO of Engie, a multinational electric utility company. In her country, she was the first woman to become CEO of a major company in the energy sector. She is a businesswoman, worked in the French Treasury, and led a multinational.
Kocher graduated from a prestigious school in France and had experience in French government and management. This brief but intense journey allowed her to secure the CEO position at Engie, where she stayed for four years and became the first woman to lead an energy multinational, involved in natural gas, renewable energies, and more.
It is worth noting that Engie provides services in more than 27 countries in Europe, is listed on the stock exchange, and is part of the CAC 40 index, which includes the most influential stocks in Paris. The biggest challenge Kocher had to face during her four-year tenure was the influence of fossil fuels. The use of renewable energy helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions, although Engie is still linked to fossil fuel-related processes.
Kocher’s academic background
After reviewing Kocher’s academic training, it is not surprising that she became one of the executive directors of an energy company. Kocher studied at the École Nationale in Paris, a selective and highly prestigious school in the French capital. There, she graduated and then studied engineering. Ultimately, she earned a master’s degree in quantum optics.
With a postgraduate certificate in physics, she began research in theoretical physics and artificial intelligence projects. She worked at a European propulsion company where she served as budget and telecommunications director, and after that experience, she became a member of the Ministry of Economy between 1997 and 1999.
Kocher, following her entry into the government, became an advisor to Lionel Jospin, who at the time was the French Prime Minister. After these brief experiences in the Ministry of Economy and as an advisor, she gained a place in the private sector of energy, specifically at Suez.
Suez SA was the former name of Engie before its merger with Gaz de France (GDF). From 2002 onwards, Kocher worked in various positions at the company while it went through a complex restructuring phase. In 2008, after several negotiations with the French government, GDF Suez emerged, and in parallel, Kocher was leading the water operations in France.
Chief financial officer and CEO
Once the merger was finalized, years later Isabelle Kocher was appointed chief financial officer of GDF Suez, after a brief stint as executive vice president. Everything was in place for her to become the next CEO, a position she eventually attained. In the meantime, some companies approached her with CEO offers.
At the beginning of 2016, Kocher took on the role of CEO, and the person previously in that position assumed the role of chairman. With that reshuffle, Kocher became the second woman to lead a company listed in the CAC 40 index. During her rise, at times, the French executive did not wish to emphasize that aspect too much.
One of the key points during Kocher’s management was addressing climate change. As a multinational involved in manufacturing processes, Kocher aimed to implement the use of renewable energies to reduce global pollution and to focus on energy from natural sources. How did she do it? Isabelle sold several assets worth millions of dollars to reinvest in renewable energy. Additionally, she provided training for 300 employees.
During her tenure, she also deepened the role of women in the company. More than 25% of the employees were women, aiming to promote diversity. In 2018, she attempted to become the company’s chairwoman but was unable to due to lack of support from certain sectors.