Thomas Udesen, CPO, Bayer: Sustainable Procurement Practices
Thomas Udesen serves as the CPO and Executive Vice President at Bayer, a global life sciences company headquartered in Germany.
In his role, Thomas oversees a procurement spend exceeding €2bn, guiding Bayer's supply chain towards sustainability and innovation.
Thomas’ career journey
Thomas’ career spans over three decades, beginning in 1990 with The East Asiatic Company, where he spent 12 years in various roles, including timber trading across Africa and Asia.
In 2003, he joined Johnson & Johnson, ascending to the position of Vice President and CPO for Consumer EMEA by 2010. In 2014, Thomas transitioned to Bayer, taking on the role of CPO, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Procurement and Trading.
Industry influence
Known for his commitment to sustainability, Thomas has been instrumental in integrating responsible sourcing practices into Bayer's procurement strategies.
He co-founded the Sustainable Procurement Pledge (SPP) alongside Bertrand Conquéret, aiming to mobilise procurement professionals globally to embed sustainability into their practices
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Thomas actively contributes to industry-wide sustainability initiatives. He has played a significant role in the development of the Together for Sustainability (TfS) Product Carbon Footprint Guideline, focusing on reducing Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions within the chemical industry.
His efforts aim to create practical solutions that can be implemented across industries to address environmental challenges.
Vision for the future
Looking ahead, Thomas envisions a procurement landscape where sustainability is deeply embedded in every decision-making process.
He advocates for collective action among procurement professionals to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Thomas believes that by shifting the mindset of procurement professionals worldwide, significant positive change can be realised.
Thomas’ tenure as CPO at Bayer is marked by a steadfast dedication to sustainability and transformative procurement practices.
His leadership has not only advanced Bayer's supply chain operations but has also set a benchmark for integrating environmental responsibility into procurement strategies globally.
As the procurement function continues to evolve, Thomas’ contributions ensure that sustainability remains at the forefront of industry priorities.
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