Estelle Brachlianoff

Estelle Brachlianoff is a French engineer and business executive serving as chief executive officer of Veolia Environnement, a global environmental services company. Educated at École Polytechnique and École des Ponts et Chaussées with degrees in physics, mathematics, and engineering, Brachlianoff began her career in public infrastructure, working at the Val-d'Oise infrastructure department in the Paris metropolitan area and later advising the Prefect of the Île-de-France region on transportation and development.

Brachlianoff joined Veolia as special advisor to the CEO for waste activities, later becoming CEO of FM activities and of the greater Paris region for waste. She moved to the United Kingdom to lead Veolia Environmental Services in the UK region and was subsequently appointed CEO of the UK and Ireland zone, joining the management and executive committees. During her tenure in the UK, Brachlianoff was a member of the President's Committee of the Confederation of British Industry and served as president of the French Chamber of Britain. She later became chief operating officer of Veolia and a member of the group's management and executive committees.

Brachlianoff was appointed chief executive officer of Veolia, succeeding Antoine Frérot. At the time, she was one of the few women leading a Paris CAC 40 company. Veolia operates globally, employing more than 200,000 people and generating a significant portion of its revenue outside Europe. As CEO, Brachlianoff has overseen the acquisition of Suez and initiated a strategic reorganization of the company. Her leadership in sustainability has included Veolia's involvement in cleaning the Seine River in Paris.

Under Brachlianoff's direction, Veolia has reported substantial revenue and pursued acquisitions such as Clean Earth, a hazardous waste company in Pennsylvania. She has advanced the company's focus on water technology and artificial intelligence-enabled infrastructure management, including partnerships to reduce data center water use. Brachlianoff has also promoted careers in ecological transformation by launching an academy dedicated to training future experts in the sector.

Beyond her role at Veolia, Brachlianoff is recognized for her contributions to global sustainability and environmental innovation. She serves on the Supervisory Board of Hermès International and participates in its Audit and Risk Committee and CAG-CSR Committee. Brachlianoff has been awarded the Knight of the National Order of Merit and the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. Fortune has included her on its Most Powerful Women list, reflecting her influence in business, technology, and environmental stewardship.