Promoting women and diversity, a priority for the Air Liquide Group

March 8, International Women’s Day, is the occasion to review the place of women in society, everywhere in the world. Air Liquide is involved in this day as diversity is an integral part of the Group’s strategies.

Present in 75 countries, Air Liquide encompasses diversity on all its registers: nationalities, gender, competencies, experience, handicaps...

In 1995, the Group’s Executive Management initiated the first action phase on diversity, in which operations carried out to promote women were included. 

Air Liquide employs about 9,600 women worldwide. During the last two years, the percentage of women among the Group’s senior management positions has doubled, increasing from 6 to 12%. Nine women were recently appointed to the head of a country or an Air Liquide entity.  Women represent nearly 20% of all engineers and managers worldwide and 30% of all hires in this category. 

The concrete action plan for “Men/Women” diversity implemented by the Group is centered on several themes:
Developing careers
A regularly held human resources review dedicated to women brings together the Group’s Executive Committee.
Communicating to and involving all the managers To favor the hiring and professional advancement of women in the company, awareness-raising and exchange days were organized in France and Japan. Nineteen session were held and over 400 managers have already participated in them in France.

Two women are now members of the Air Liquide Group’s Board of Directors: Béatrice Majnoni d’Intignano, a university professor, and Karen Katen, a director on the boards of several companies.

Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in over 75 countries with 43,000 employees. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide’s activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and future markets. The Group innovates to enable progress, to achieve dynamic growth and a consistent performance.
Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable applications and services not only for its customers but also for society. Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry’s energy use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow, such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy… Oxygen for hospitals, homecare, fighting nosocomial infections…
A partner for the long term, Air Liquide relies on employee commitment, customer trust and shareholder support to pursue its vision of sustainable, competitive growth. The diversity of Air Liquide’s teams, businesses, markets and geographic presence provides a solid and sustainable base for its development and strengthens its ability to push back its own limits, conquer new territories and build its future.
Air Liquide explores the best that air can offer to preserve life, staying true to its sustainable development approach. In 2008, the Group’s revenues amounted to €13.1 billion, of which almost 80% were earned outside France. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.