Marie-Joséphine Sidibé is an Ivorian business leader and energy executive who serves as the Managing Director of Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB), Côte d’Ivoire’s second-largest refinery and a key player in the West African bitumen sector. Appointed in 2021, she is one of the few Ivorian women to lead a company of such scale and influence in the downstream oil industry.
A native of Abengourou and daughter of the late King of Indenie, Nanan Bonzou II, Sidibé combines deep cultural heritage with modern corporate leadership. She holds a degree from the École Supérieure de Commerce d’Abidjan (ESCA) and began her career in banking with Société Générale in France and Côte d’Ivoire. In 1991, she transitioned to the oil and gas industry, joining Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR), where she spent three decades developing extensive expertise in refining and downstream operations.
Throughout her 30-year career, Sidibé has become recognized as one of Africa’s foremost figures in petroleum and energy management. Known for her humility, discipline, and collaborative leadership style, she is deeply committed to sharing knowledge, fostering talent, and advancing women’s participation in the energy sector.
Today, under her guidance, SMB continues to strengthen its role as a regional leader in bitumen production and distribution—supporting infrastructure development and economic growth across West Africa.