„Successful CPOs“

📖“Successful CPOs TWO: Stories of Powerful Procurement Officers reaching for the Top“.

1️⃣At the end of 2024, I shared my experiences and perspectives on leadership in Procurement. „Successful CPOs; Stories of Powerful CPOs“ is a compelling compilation that draws on the rich experiences and insightful wisdom of over 35 global Procurement Leaders

2️⃣“Successful CPOs II“ is out now, and it’s another engaging collection of innovative articles that leverage the experiences and insights of over 30 Procurement Leaders. The book addresses a diverse array of both contemporary and timeless topics, such as leadership, sustainability, digitalization, design, competitive pricing, quality assurance, financial planning, team building, and much more.

My contribution – the role of the CPO

✅The role of the CPO is fundamentally changing. The CPO of the future is no longer just a functional leader focused on sourcing and cost optimization. The role is a corporate strategist, co-creating enterprise strategy and shaping long-term value creation.

However, in any case, one must earn the role through performance, innovation, courage, and value contribution. Not just demanding and complaining, and whining

✅Today’s CPO operates at the Board level, connecting market dynamics, innovation, resilience, sustainability, and digital transformation with corporate ambition. With more than half of corporate spend flowing into supply ecosystems, Procurement has a decisive influence on growth, risk exposure, ESG impact, and competitive differentiation.

✅ Future-oriented CPOs orchestrate innovation ecosystems, strengthen enterprise resilience through agile supply networks, and embed responsible growth into the core of corporate strategy. They leverage digital capabilities, AI, and data-driven governance to enable faster, smarter decisions across the organization.

✅This evolution requires Boards to rethink the role of Procurement to step beyond their traditional boundaries. It is an ambitious shift, but in an increasingly volatile and competitive global environment, it is not optional.

The CPO is no longer executing the strategy. The CPO is co-creating the future. A rethinking of the role is therefore more than necessary.

An excellent read for anyone aspiring a career in Procurement, as well as (Supervisory) Board members who are (re-) considering the positioning of their Procurement organization.Happy reading and discussing. Contact me for further discussions.