Full Name: Magali Pailhé

Position and Company Name: MD of TotalEnergies Exploration & Production and Renewables South Africa

Date and Place of Birth: April 15, 1980, France

Schools and Tertiary Education: MBA, ESSEC Business School, France

Main Activity of the Company: Energy

First Job: Economist at TotalEnergies

Size of First Pay Packet: Not stated

Career Path to Date: I have spent more than 20 years at TotalEnergies and currently serve as MD of TotalEnergies Exploration & Production and Renewables South Africa, following multiple senior roles across Europe, Africa and the Middle East within the company spanning economics, negotiations, strategy, investor relations and business management

Value of Assets under Your Control: Three exploration blocks located off the West Coast of South Africa that TotalEnergies operates and have significant hydrocarbon resources potential, as well as a portfolio of renewables projects with a combined capacity of 700 MW, comprising solar PV, wind and battery storage systems, with 400 MW already in operation and 300 MW to be commissioned in the coming months. In addition, a 320 MW wind project is expected to be sanctioned soon, which would enable TotalEnergies to reach 1 GW installed capacity in South Africa by 2030

Number of People under Your Leadership: 80

Management Style: Results-oriented.  I challenge the status quo. I expect professionalism from my team and always aim to reach the highest level. It’s impressive what we can achieve as a group by bringing competencies together and complementing one another

Personal Best Achievement: When you have a child, what other achievement can be bigger than that! Professionally, I would say the safe start-up of TotalEnergies’ Hydra hybrid project, which combines a 216 MW solar PV plant with a 500 MWh battery storage system, which is the biggest of its kind in Africa, along with ramping up TotalEnergies’ activities in South Africa

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Many, including my parents and my grandmother, who instilled in me strong values, and Ali, my tennis coach when I was a child, who taught me to never give up!

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: In TotalEnergies, we have the opportunity to change positions and countries regularly. This enabled me to work with different people in different contexts and to benefit from their experience and leadership. Two persons stand out: my boss when I was in investor relations, whose energy and creativity, as well as the exposure I got under his leadership, clearly influenced my career, and another previous boss, Arnaud le Foll, who always surprised with points of view nobody had thought about, while remaining approachable, humble, and genuinely pleasant to interact with

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Crystal Pite, a choreographer who is able to direct a big troupe of dancers to create a unique work of art and evoke tremendous emotions

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Without any hesitation, it is our current CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, for his courage, loyalty, level of excellence and intellectual strength

Philosophy of Life: Enjoy life – it is a gift! And don’t forget to help others who may be facing difficulties

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My current position, which enables me to continue evolving in Exploration & Production, where I have spent most of my career, while discovering the renewables industry in South Africa, where the market is evolving drastically

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I don’t remember

Hope for the Future: A world offering more equality

Favourite Reading: Novels and comics, but I must say, I mainly read when I am on holiday

Favourite TV Programme: I don’t have TV

Favourite Food/Drink: White wine, Chenin Blanc

Favourite Music: World music blending Latin rhythms, jazz influences, and timeless acoustic traditions – from Cuban son and boleros to cosmopolitan jazz and French songs, of course

Favourite Sport: Tennis

Hobbies: Tennis and art (painting and contemporary dance)

Car: None

Pets: None

Married: Yes

Children: I have one child

Clubs: None