Philippe brought with him a wealth of knowledge when he joined Lyondell.
Location: Lyondell European Headquarters, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Year joined Lyondell: 2006
Education: B.B.A, Business Administration, ESC Rouen, France, 1984
After hours: Running, sea-kayaking and traveling
Favorite dessert: homemade Charlotte Malakoff
Philippe had worked in human resources, compensation and benefits, auditing and sales before assuming his role here. As compensation and benefits manager for Europe, he is responsible for compensation and benefits for Lyondell employees in The Netherlands and France.
He also came with the knowledge of what it takes to succeed in an international organization.
“You have to stay open-minded to other ways of doing business – other cultures,” he said. “Some things are not predictable. Good listening abilities and understanding are key to succeeding in any international position.”
The positive work environment here is a key driver in performance.
Being part of a large global organization provides a corporate diversity that appeals to Philippe, who said that the organization’s focus on “operational excellence and the high level of individual commitment" is what differentiates Lyondell’s culture.
It all starts with “the basics” Philippe said. Culture and commitment can be enhanced by something as basic as the communication encouraged by Lyondell’s Dialog, the organization’s process of using purposeful, face-to-face discussions between employees at every level in the company.
“At first thought, Dialog seemed like such a basic thing,” he said. “But basic things are most missed when they aren’t present. Having Dialog done well throughout the organization supports efficiency and enhances trust.”