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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
From AI to aerospace: Europe's most innovative companies shaping tomorrow
What does innovation look like in 2025? From AI to blockbuster weight-loss drugs, Europe's forward-thinking companies punch above their weight. For the first time, Fortune analyzed the top companies across the continent in partnership with Statista to find the standouts that are driving progress with success. Patent data was provided by LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions. The list features 300 companies across 21 countries and 16 industries, and a total of 168 of the companies are on the Fortune 500 Europe. Companies on the list have brought in just under $8 trillion in annual revenue. The U.K. has more companies on our list than any other country, followed by Germany and Switzerland. The top sectors are finance, followed by retail and industrials. Companies on the list have brought in just under $8 trillion in annual revenue. The list features 300 companies across 21 countries and 16 industries, and a total of 168 of the companies are on the Fortune 500 Europe. Companies on the list have brought in just under $8 trillion in annual revenue. The U.K. has more companies on our list than any other country, followed by Germany and Switzerland. The top sectors are finance, followed by retail and industrials. L'Oréal was ranked at the top of the list in 2025. 'We are immensely proud to be recognized by Fortune as Europe's most innovative company,' Nicolas Hieronimus, Chief Executive Officer of L'Oréal told Fortune. 'This prestigious recognition reinforces our conviction that innovation, fueled by science, technology, and creativity, is the best way to succeed on the world stage, but is also a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of our teams around the globe.' We've highlighted some of the standout companies from this year's list driving innovation across Europe. Household products Noted for: Product innovation Employees: 50,000–99,999Fortune 500 Europe rank: 91France L'Oréal invests more than €1 billion annually in research and innovation and boasts a team of over 4,000 researchers. This, in turn, helps the French company formulate new ingredients and develop new products. Earlier this year, L'Oréal launched a device called Cell BioPrint that will give people a detailed assessment of their skin and the products best suited for it. 'This prestigious recognition reinforces our conviction that innovation, fueled by science, technology, and creativity, is the best way to succeed on the world stage…' Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO, L'Oréal Household products Product innovationEmployees: >100,000F500 Europe rank: 49U.K. Unilever's innovations take different shapes and forms—from fast-action laundry liquid to paper-cup instant noodles. The London-based company has 20,000 patents and a team of 5,000 experts who design new products, aided by nearly €1 billion in annual investments. Unilever has also expanded its AI use to help customers find the best products and discover new ones backed by scientific data. Health careProduct innovationEmployees: 50,000–99,999F500 Europe rank: 210Netherlands Founded in 1891, Royal Philips is known for pioneering innovations in lighting, health care, and consumer electronics. Key breakthroughs include the first compact audio cassette, electric razors, and mercury-free light bulbs. Today, Philips leads in sustainable, health–focused technology, improving billions of lives globally. Health careInnovation cultureEmployees: 50,000–99,999F500 Europe rank: 104U.K. GSK's innovations were reflected in its bottom line in 2024. With the help of its Silicon Valley veteran technology chief, Shobie Ramakrishnan, GSK is also using AI to speed drug discovery and streamline its supply chains. Health careInnovation cultureEmployees: 50,000–99,999F500 Europe rank: 116Denmark Novo Nordisk is wasting little time in developing new obesity treatments that, until recently, made it Europe's most valuable company. In May, the FDA accepted Novo's application to sell an oral version of Wegovy; an approval decision is expected in Q4. Novo Nordisk's recent trials for CagriSema, a new, more effective weight-loss medication, could increase its appeal beyond the millions already using its drugs. Health careProcess innovationEmployees: 50,000–99,999F500 Europe rank: 125Ireland In 2024, Medtronic invested more than $2.7 billion in R&D and operated over 81 manufacturing sites. AI is used to customize patient care, ranging from personalized brain therapy to data-driven diabetes care. The use of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) also helps enhance precision and control. RetailingProduct innovationEmployees: >100,000F500 Europe rank: 144France Whether with Ray-Ban Meta glasses or its latest audio-enhancing eyewear, EssilorLuxottica is always pioneering new technology. Nearly 1,000 researchers across 50 R&D sites supported by up to €350 million in investment help the Franco-Italian company stay ahead of trends. The company is also vertically integrated, allowing for better quality control globally. Click here to view the full list. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Ana Botin of Santander became one of the most powerful women in Europe
Good morning! Marine Le Pen was barred from running for office, Columbia University has a new president (again), and we have the latest from one of the most powerful women in Europe. - At the top. Last year, Ana Botín ranked No. 15 on Fortune's annual ranking of the world's Most Powerful Women in Business. The Banco Santander executive chair is the fourth member of her family to lead the legacy Spanish bank and has held her position for a decade. She remains one of the most influential women in Europe—and Santander has been on an upswing, ranked No. 10 on the Fortune 500 Europe. My colleague Prarthana Prakash has a new interview with Botín in the most recent magazine issue of Fortune. Botín chats with Prarthana about her daily routine, business trends, and the challenges facing European business. European business leaders have a real "productivity gap" with the U.S., Botín acknowledges. "We have to be honest with society about the scale of the challenge and the urgency of the need for change," she says. "We must do much more to embrace innovation and enterprise, creating a business environment and culture that rewards smart risk-taking." She advocates for reducing "regulatory and supervisory complexity" and creating a new "social compact" between business and society. Santander has more than 170 million customers around the world and earned €12.6 billion in profits last year. After a challenging period, higher interest rates, a focus on digital banking, and strong investment banking performance in the U.S. have started to pay off. Those are some striking achievements for one of the few women to lead a major global bank. Read the full interview here. Emma The Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter is Fortune's daily briefing for and about the women leading the business world. Today's edition was curated by Nina Ajemian. Subscribe here. This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Power Players: Meet the women reshaping 10 key European industries
Women doing great things is a tale as old as time. In the 21st century, that manifests in various ways, including in the sprawling corporations they are at the helm of. From Daimler Truck Holdings' Karin Rådström to Chanel's Leena Nair, it's hard to find an industry—or any slice of corporate Europe—that women haven't made waves in. Veolia's Estele Brachlianoff joined the $49 billion French utility company 20 years ago in various capacities before becoming CEO nearly three years ago. Branchlianoff presided over the Seine River's clean-up ahead of the Paris Olympics last year. British pharma giant GSK's Emma Walmsley navigated setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic and looming activist investors, among other things, to create new growth engines in cancer treatments and other specialty medicines. International Women's Day is a chance to reflect on these leaders' successes and the challenges they face. This year, Fortune curated a list of female leaders at the helm of European companies across the continent's biggest industries. To spotlight current and up-and-coming leaders, we drew upon our flagship rankings: Fortune 500 Europe and Most Powerful Women, as well as our recently debuted Fortune Tech Leaders: Europe's Most Influential Women list. International Women's Day is a chance to reflect on these leaders' successes and the challenges they face. While the women we highlight are pioneering in their respective fields, they also face challenges threatening to eclipse their wins. In 2024's Fortune 500 Europe list, which ranks the continent's biggest companies by revenue, the number of women running companies slid from 7% the previous year to 6.2%. Profits among women-led companies also declined compared to an increase among companies led by men. Although this disparity wasn't statistically significant, according to Fortune's data analysis team, it points to a possible glass cliff scenario in the making. Women with board roles are far higher in European companies than in the U.S., but they fall short of the U.S. when it comes to directorial or CEO roles, according to STOXX Europe 600 data cited by Goldman Sachs in a 2024 report. Still, there's been an uptick in women CEOs in the last 15 years in the U.S. as well as Europe. Women with board roles are far higher in European companies than in the U.S., but they fall short of the U.S. when it comes to directorial or CEO roles. This increase in women reaching leadership positions is especially significant now, just as a slew of companies dismantle their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, primarily in the U.S. under political pressure, sending ripple effects elsewhere. It's nonetheless remarkable that the women CEOs who lead Europe's largest companies run the gamut, affirming that there truly is no limit to their achievements as business leaders. Rådström has been the CEO of Daimler Truck Holdings since 2024 following the departure of Martin Daum. She is the company's first female CEO. Daimler Truck Holding ranks #55 on Fortune 500 Europe 2024. Branchlianoff became CEO of Veolia in 2022 after previously serving as the COO and leading operations in the U.K. and Ireland. She ranks #83 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. Heydemann became CEO of the French telecommunications company Orange in 2022. She also sits on the company's board of directors. She ranks #41 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. Ferrand became CEO of France-based Crédit Mutuel Group in May of 2023, and is one of few women to lead a major European bank. She ranks #84 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. Rigail joined Air Inter (which later merged with her current employer, Air France) in 1991 as a fresh-faced college graduate. Nearly 30 years later, Air France named her as CEO, making Rigail the first female chief executive in the company's history. She ranks #48 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. Nair stepped in as CEO of French luxury house Chanel in January 2022 after working as the chief human resources officer for Unilever for nearly six years. She ranks #68 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. MacKay has been the CEO of commercial real estate company Cushman and Wakefield since July 2023. The New York-listed, London-registered company is ranked #380 on Fortune 500 Europe 2024. Walmsley is around eight years into her effort to return the British pharma company to growth, and her work is starting to pay off. Much credit goes to Arexvy, GSK's first-on-the-market RSV vaccine, which was a triumph for GSK after the company failed to develop a COVID jab. She ranks #5 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. Read more: GSK could double CEO Emma Walmsley's pay to $27 million in bid to bring U.K. exec salaries in line with the U.S. Jönsson was appointed CEO of ICA Gruppen in 2022. She has over 20 years of experience in the retail and food industries and was previously CEO of retailer, Plantagen. ICA Gruppen is ranked #294 on Fortune 500 Europe 2024 list. Read more: Tariffs add a new twist as Don Julio tequila and Guinness maker Diageo faces a rocky 2025 Crew was appointed as CEO of Diageo in June 2023 after stints as the COO and president of Diageo North America and global supply. She is one of 10 women who are the CEOs of FTSE100 companies and ranks #65 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. Nemat has been a member of Deutsche Telekom's management board since 2011. Until the end of 2016 she led the European business and since 2017 has overseen the board area of technology and innovation. She is featured on Fortune Tech Leaders: Europe's Most Influential Women 2024 list. Breda's work emphasizes sustainable living and advancing Electrolux's ambitious 'For the Better 2030' goals, including substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy-efficient manufacturing. She is featured on Fortune Tech Leaders: Europe's Most Influential Women 2024 list. With a career spanning over two decades at leading companies including Philips and Nokia, Soritsch-Renier has driven the company's digital transformation into a global leader in sustainable construction. She is featured on Fortune Tech Leaders: Europe's Most Influential Women 2024 list. Welsh-born Blanc took the top job at British insurance company Aviva in 2020 after leadership stints at Zurich Insurance Group, AXA, and Towergate Insurance. She is Aviva's first female CEO and ranks #36 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2024 list. Over Lavernos's 30-year career with L'Oréal, she has spearheaded transformative innovations, including integrating AI and green sciences to revolutionize beauty products and experiences. She is featured on Fortune Tech Leaders: Europe's Most Influential Women list. Women CEOs who lead Europe's largest companies run the gamut, affirming that there truly is no limit to their achievements as business leaders. This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
