Veerle Slenders joined Umicore three years ago. She is now Executive Vice-President of Specialty Materials and is responsible for the Umicore’s Group Environment, Health and Safety. A chemical engineer by training, she combines technical depth with a people-focused leadership style and a strong belief that purpose matters more than titles.
At Umicore, Veerle leads a business that she used to describe as the hidden gem of Umicore:
While Umicore is widely known for recycling, automotive catalysts and battery materials, Specialty Materials is often less at the forefront. The value and potential are not always visible from the outside, but they are very real.
The division focuses on highly specialized applications where advanced materials create real value. “Think of germanium substrates powering space exploration or the electroplated metal on connectors that enable your smartphone and EV to charge,” she says. “We are innovating in integrated semiconductor systems through our materials or even making tires more durable. Our Specialty Materials can be found everywhere. As a materials technology company, what we develop is often used in applications further along the value chain,” she explains. “Some of our materials can be part of systems that can be considered dual use, serving both every day applications as well as more specific defense applications. What remains constant, however, is the company’s approach: “With clear boundaries and strong governance in place, there is an ongoing awareness of where and how our materials are used, and each case is carefully assessed to ensure decisions remain aligned with Umicore’s values.”
For Veerle, Umicore’s Core 2028 Group strategy provides the clarity needed to unlock potential. “It’s the right path forward for Umicore,” she says. “It’s about cash generation in our foundation businesses and value recovery in Battery Materials, guided by four clear imperatives: capital discipline, performance and growth, people and culture, and collaboration. All while staying fully committed to safety and sustainability. Because our ability to recycle and reuse critical materials is not just sustainable, it’s a strategic advantage.”
“For Specialty Materials, it gives us a clear mandate,” she adds. “Invest selectively where it matters to capture attractive growth, enhance value where needed, and make focused, impactful decisions aligned with our long-term ambition. And make sure every colleague understands the strategy and its goals. Because, as I said during our Capital Markets Day, even the best strategy only works when people understand it and feel ownership for it.”
The journey to leading with purpose
Veerle’s path to leadership did not follow a straight line. Encouraged early on to choose the more challenging route, she built a strong foundation in mathematics and science before choosing industrial engineering over architecture or business.
“In hindsight, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” she reflects. “Technical skills are hard to acquire later in life. Business skills, you can add.”
Early roles in sales, production and commercial environments helped her discover where she thrives most. “I realized quite early on that combining technical depth with working closely with people is where I thrive,” she says. “That’s where I found my purpose.” That realization laid the groundwork for the next stage of her journey: leadership.
Her first general manager role proved pivotal. Leading a large and diverse team gave her a clear understanding of what leadership truly means. “It’s about bringing people together around a common goal,” she explains. “And about trust, clarity and being present.” That presence still defines her leadership style today. “If I go through a day without connecting with people,” she smiles, “it’s not a good day for me.”
Safety always
Alongside leading Specialty Materials, Veerle is also responsible for Umicore’s Group Environment, Health and Safety. Umicore has recently taken an important step forward on Safety Always by clearly defining what it means in day-to-day behavior. Just as the company recently revisited its values and its linked behavioral expectations, it has done the same for safety.
These expectations are built around three simple but powerful principles: we protect people first, we prevent harm and control risks, and we stop unsafe conditions and speak up. They define how we act when no one is watching, how we make decisions under pressure, and how we respond in the moments that matter – when stopping work, challenging a situation or speaking up makes a real difference. These behaviors are not just words on paper. They will be progressively embedded into how we recognize safety performance. Behind every number is a person, and one incident is already one too many. Clear expectations, accountability and leadership behavior are essential.
For Veerle, that makes safety not only a matter of systems and processes, but about culture, consistency and leadership in action every single day.
Beyond the title
When you step into Veerle’s office, you quickly get a sense of the person behind the role. “The objects around me remind me why I do what I do,” she says. “They tell a story about people, moments and choices.”
She describes herself first and foremost not by her position, but by who she is beyond it. “I’m a family person,” she says. “My husband, my daughters and now my sons-in-law, my grandson, my parents and my sister are my anchors.” She is also a dog lover and a people person at heart. “My pets and family bring me joy. It sounds cliché but it really doesn’t have to be more complicated than that. Professionally, I’ve always tried to bring the best version of myself to work. Working with people is what gives me energy.”
Over time, Veerle’s definition of success has evolved.
In my twenties, it was about learning. Later, it became about recognition. Today, success is about making a difference for someone else, sharing what I’ve learned and helping others grow.
For Veerle, leadership is defined not by position but by the intentions behind our actions and the choices we make every day for the business, for people and for what truly matters.
That belief shapes the advice she gives to colleagues, her children and herself. “It doesn’t matter what you do,” she says. “What matters is doing the ordinary extraordinarily well. That’s where purpose lives.”
