Table of Contents
Key Points
- Catherine MacGregor leads Engie’s $55 billion transformation from fossil fuels to renewables, hydrogen, and smart energy infrastructure worldwide.
- Engie posted $30 billion Q1 revenue as MacGregor’s clean energy pivot drives growth, lifting its market cap and global influence.
- MacGregor champions gender equity in energy, mentoring women and reshaping STEM leadership across Europe’s male-dominated energy sector.
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Catherine MacGregor has risen to the top ranks of global business leadership, steering one of the world’s largest energy companies. In 2021, she became CEO of the French multinational utility giant Engie, marking a groundbreaking moment in the energy sector as she took control of a firm with operations spanning over 30 countries.
Today, MacGregor leads a 97,000-strong workforce and oversees Engie’s massive portfolio of energy infrastructure and clean energy projects, shaping the future of global energy with a clear focus on sustainability and decarbonization. Her appointment is not only a personal triumph but a powerful symbol of African excellence on the global corporate stage.
From oilfields to boardrooms
Armed with an engineering degree from CentraleSupélec, one of France’s top engineering schools, MacGregor began her career in the oil and gas sector, spending nearly two decades at Schlumberger, the world’s largest oilfield services company. There, she held key leadership roles across multiple continents, gaining operational expertise in a heavily male-dominated industry.
In 2019, she joined Technip Energies as President of the Technip Group, before being tapped by Engie’s board in 2021 to lead the company through a major transformation, shifting from fossil fuels to low-carbon solutions. Her deep technical experience and global perspective made her the ideal choice to navigate this critical transition.
Driving Engie’s clean energy pivot
Since becoming CEO in 2021, Catherine MacGregor has led Engie through a sweeping transformation, divesting over $10 billion in fossil assets and ramping up investments in renewables, hydrogen, and smart grids.
In Q1 2025, Engie posted €25.8 billion ($30.05 billion) in revenue, up 3.2 percent year-on-year, reflecting its strategic shift. The firm’s enterprise value now exceeds $55 billion, with a market cap of €47.39 billion ($55.18 billion). Its share price has climbed more than 60 percent under MacGregor’s leadership.
Committed to carbon neutrality by 2045, Engie aims for 80 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. By early 2025, it had 43.6 GW installed and 6.2 GW in development. The company is investing €22 ($25.6)–€25 billion ($29.1 billion) from 2023 to 2025, with a third allocated to renewables.
Championing women and innovation
MacGregor’s ascent is not just about corporate performance—it’s also a story of representation. She is one of the very few women, and even fewer of African descent, to lead a Fortune Global 500 company in Europe’s energy sector.
In 2024, she earned a compensation package of €4.3 million ($5 million), reflecting Engie’s strong financial performance and the confidence of the board in her long-term vision. She also sits on several industry boards, influencing energy policy and innovation across Europe and beyond. She also holds 106,000 shares in Engie, valued at €2.07 million ($2.41 million), showcasing her deep financial connection to the company.
MacGregor uses her platform to champion gender equity in STEM and leadership. She regularly mentors young women in engineering and is vocal about dismantling structural barriers in energy and tech industries. Her leadership is helping reshape what global energy leadership looks like—more inclusive, more sustainable, and more future-forward.
From Casablanca to Paris, oil rigs to boardrooms, Catherine MacGregor’s journey is a testament to grit, global ambition, and transformative leadership. Her story continues to inspire a new generation of African women aiming for the pinnacle of corporate influence on a global stage.
