Sodexo Names New Chairwoman of the Board

Sodexo, the global leader in food and services, announced today that Nathalie Bellon-Szabo will succeed Sophie Bellon as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. The transition is set to take place after the Annual Shareholders Meeting on December 16, 2026, where Sophie Bellon's mandate will be renewed.

Sophie Bellon, who has served as Chairwoman since 2016, has decided not to seek renewal of her mandate. During her tenure, she significantly reshaped the company through strategic transformations, including the spin-off and listing of Sodexo’s Benefits & Rewards services activity (Pluxee) and the divestment of Sodexo’s stake in Sofinsod. Her leadership also strengthened the independence of the Board and the quality of its work.

Nathalie Bellon-Szabo, a long-standing member of Sodexo, has dedicated most of her career to the company. She has held numerous operational leadership roles and has been a member of the Group Executive Team since 2018. Under her leadership, Sodexo Live! has established itself as a global leader in food services and travel hospitality, particularly in the sports, leisure, and major events sectors. Revenue for Sodexo Live! has increased fourfold over the past decade, with the United States becoming its largest market.

Bellon-Szabo has served as a Director of Sodexo since 1989 and is a member of both the Nominating Committee and the Sustainability Committee. She has also held the position of Director of Pluxee since 2024, where she sits on the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, and as a Director of Bouygues Group since 2025. Her appointment as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors marks a new phase in Sodexo’s governance as the company embarks on its Shift & Grow 2030 growth acceleration plan.

Nathalie Bellon-Szabo will step down from her operational responsibilities within the company, focusing instead on leading the work of the Board of Directors. Her role will be to ensure high standards of governance and support executive management. This transition comes as Sodexo enters a new chapter in its history, with the launch of its Shift & Grow 2030 plan in July 2026.

Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is a leader in food and services, shaping better everyday experiences at work, heal, learn, and play. The company stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding, and its responsible business model. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good, and DJSI indices.

Throughout her career, Nathalie Bellon-Szabo has demonstrated a strong commitment to talent development and internal promotion within both Sodexo Live! and Sodexo. She joined Sodexo in 1996 and was involved in the creation of Sodexo Prestige. She subsequently developed Sodexo’s Sports & Leisure business, which, under her leadership, became Sodexo Live! in 2021. Prior to her current role, she served as Sales Director of Sodexo Prestige in France, Chief Executive Officer of Sodexo Sports & Leisure France in 2010, and Chair of Lenôtre in 2012. In 2015, she was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Sodexo’s Sports & Leisure business worldwide, building a portfolio of premier client sites and prestigious brands. In 2017, she played a pivotal role in the acquisition of Centerplate in the United States, positioning Sodexo as a leading player in the sports and leisure industry and doubling its global footprint.