Xavier Varone

Vice President, Global R&D

Xavier Varone is Vice President, Global Research & Development, at Novelis. Throughout his career, he has held key roles across technology development, quality management, continuous improvement, and research and development.

From 2021 to 2024, Xavier was Global Technology Director for Automotive at Novelis, where he led product innovation and R&D efforts across all regions. In this role he oversaw the company’s Automotive Customer Solution Centers, a global network that brings research and technical platforms, operations and commercial development together to increase collaboration and innovation with customers.

In 2021, Xavier also took on the role of Technical Chair of Alumobility, an association focused on driving the adoption of aluminum in automotive body sheet through innovative technical studies. His leadership in this role, with continued through 2023, underscored his commitment to positioning aluminum as a key material in automotive design and sustainability.

Earlier, from 2017 to 2021, Xavier served as Director of Quality for Novelis Europe, overseeing quality performance across the region’s 11-plant manufacturing network. In collaboration with teams from Beverage Packaging, Specialties, Automotive, and Aerospace, he implemented advanced quality systems aligned with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 standards, which significantly elevated product quality across all sectors.

Xavier holds a master’s degree in materials science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and an MBA from ESCE International Business School in France.