Total has appointed Sonia Sikorav Chief Purchasing Officer.

Sonia Sikorav, 53, is a graduate of École Normale Supérieure and an associate professor of Physical Sciences. She holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry and an MSM from the MIT Sloan School of Management (Sloan Fellow Program).

Ms. Sikorav began her career at Rhône-Poulenc, where she held various positions between 1982 and 1991, most notably as assistant to the head of chemicals research.

She then joined Saint-Gobain, where she successively managed industrial development and steel operations for the technical ceramics business, later becoming head of companies in two branches : ceramics and plastics, and packaging. In 2000, she was tasked with creating and heading Saint-Gobain's new Purchasing Department.

In 2005, Ms. Sikorav became Senior Vice President, Products and Strategy for Alstom Transport. In 2007, she joined an executive recruitment firm as a senior consultant specializing in industry and procurement.

Sonia Sikorav became a member of Total's Corporate Purchasing management team in early October and will replace Jean Bié as Senior Vice President of the Department effective January 1, 2011.

Tags: Total