Top 10 leading CPOs from global beverage organisations
Francoise Lançon - Lactalis
Headquarters: France
Years at the company: 13
Skills: Purchasing, global sourcing, procurement, supply chain
Education: Sciences Po; and EDHEC Business School
For more than 30 years, Francoise Lançon has built her career in brand marketing and procurement in France. Lançon’s first role in procurement began at Danone Group in 1998 as Global Sourcing Director. Strengthening her experience in the industry, Lançon stayed with Danone Group for seven years before joining Kraft Biscuits Europe as Quality and Regulatory Director.
In 2008, Lançon joined Lactalis as its CPO.
Brian Chambers - Constellation Brands
Headquarters: USA
Years at the company: 2
Skills: Supply chain, strategic sourcing, procurement, purchasing
Education: Michigan State University
Brian Chambers’ career in procurement began in 1998 at Nabisco Biscuit Company as Purchasing Manager for paper packaging. In this role, Chambers managed US$30mn in annual spend, managed interactions and negotiations with suppliers and coordinated productivity initiatives.
After two years at the company, Chambers moved on to work for a variety of organisations including Kraft Foods, Wrigley, Mars, Revlon, CSM Bakery Solutions, and Tate & Lyle before joining Constellation Brands in 2020.
Today Chambers leads the enterprise-wide procurement organisation for the US$8bn alcoholic beverage company and is committed to driving a best in class transformation agenda.
Chambers describes himself as being “a strategic-minded visionary who excels in fueling double-digit business growth by optimising supply chain practices, maximising supplier value, and leveraging a total cost of ownership perspective.”
Chambers is recognised for his ability to build progressive, high-performance, multinational procurement teams.
Johan Keerberg - Calrsberg Group
Headquarters: Switzerland
Years at the company: 4
Skills: Procurement, strategic sourcing, purchasing, supply chain management
Education: Chalmers University of Technology
With a career spanning 30 years, Johan Keerberg began his career journey in procurement at Mondelēz International as Assistant Manager of Procurement Packaging. After six years at the company, Keerberg moved on to join McKinsey & Co. (1998), Kraft Foods (2001), and FrieslandCampina (2011) before taking on the role he holds today at Carlsberg Group.
Keerberg is an experienced procurement and supply chain expert, he has led major international transformations and has significant consultancy experience.
Kelly Bengston - Starbucks
Headquarters: USA
Years at the company: 12
Skills: Supply chain management, forecasting, inventory management, leadership
Education: Central Washington University
Kelly Bengston’s career began in 1998 at BDA as a Project Manager. In 2010 Bengston joined Starbucks in supply chain commercialisation. Over the last 12 years, she has climbed through the ranks at the multinational coffeehouse chain.
Today she is the CPO responsible for enhancing Starbucks’ enterprise-wide functional strategic sourcing and supplier relationships, as well as creating consistent global sourcing processes, developing a sourcing talent management programme, and building a values-based approach to working with suppliers.
Bengston’s peer describe her as ‘invaluable’ and ‘a trusted voice’, with the ability to rise to impossible challenges.
Janelle Orozco - Diageo
Headquarters: UK
Years at the company: 13
Skills: Procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, supply chain
Education: Northwestern University; and Kansas State University
Janelle Orozco has been a part of the Diageo company for 20 years. Orozco began as an Ingredient Buyer climbing through the ranks as Procurement Director; Vice-President of Marketing, Indirect Procurement, and Supplier Diversity; and SVP of Global Marketing Procurement before becoming the company’s CPO.
In her role, Orozco leads a team of 400 managing over £5bn in spend, and working to deliver a three-year transformation programme for incremental value, better risk management, reduced internal complexity and contribute to broader ESG goals.
Orozco is an authentic and visionary business leader, well known for spotting and developing diverse talent, building high performing teams and driving positive change. Orozco is a curious, empathetic and decisive leader who is passionate about diversity and inclusion.
Sarah Kerlan Etcheverry - Pernod Ricard
Headquarters: France
Years at the company: 2
Skills: Procurement, purchasing, strategic sourcing, supply management
Education: ESIEC - Ecole Superieure d'Ingénieur - Reims; ESCP Business School; and Nancy University
Being a highly experienced leader with executive-level management, Sarah Kerlan Etcheverry’s career in procurement spans more than 20 years. Etcheverry has grown her experience and career in the function at several organisations including L'Oréal, Mars, Merial, and Compass Group.
After 16 years at Compass Group, Etcheverry joined Pernod Ricard in 2020 as the beverage company’s CPO.
Etcheverry’s peers describe her as an empathetic leader with strong listening skills allowing her to understand and respond to operational issues.
David Lainchbury - Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.
Headquarters: Ireland
Years at the company: 4
Skills: Strategic sourcing, procurement, purchasing, supply chain management
Education: University of Northampton
David Lainchbury is an experienced supply chain and operations leader with a history of leading teams in multinational organisations in the food and beverage (F&B) and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries.
Lainchbury began his career journey at Masterfoods USA, before joining The Dannon Company, Pinnacle Foods, and Beachbody before becoming the CPO of Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.
In his current role, Lainchbury is responsible for all aspects of the global procurement function and leading all operational aspects of the company’s international and concentrate operations.
David Hauxwell - Anheuser-Busch InBev
Headquarters: Switzerland
Years at the company: 12
Skills: Global sourcing, procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain management
Education: Michigan State University; and Virginia Commonwealth University
David Hauxwell has been a part of the procurement industry for more than 20 years, his career journey began at Monsanto Company as a Transportation Sourcing Manager. After two years at the company, Hauxwell moved on to work for Sealy (2000), Electrolux (2003), and MeadWestvaco (2005) before becoming VP Global Sourcing at Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2010.
Today Hauxwell is the CPO of Anheuser-Busch InBev a role he has held since 2019.
Mark Westfall - The Coca-Cola Company
Headquarters: USA
Years at the company: 13
Skills: Mergers and Acquisitions, financial analysis, procurement, forecasting
Education: Washington University in St. Louis; and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
For 20 years, Mark Westfall has been a part of the procurement function. His career began at EY in 2000 as a Senior Strategy Consultant where he stayed for one year before moving on to Anheuser-Busch where he first held the role of Senior Manager of Corporate Development.
Today Westfall is the CPO of The Coca-Cola Company managing US$35bn in annual spend with a team of 300 professionals in over 30 countries.
Westfall is a leading finance, strategy and supply chain executive recognised for his vision. Leadership, strong analytical insights, business judgement, and ability to build and transform organisations.
Melani Wilson Smith - PepsiCo
Headquarters: USA
Years at the company: 2
Skills: Procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain management, global sourcing
Education: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; and The George Washington University
Melani Wilson Smith is a motivational leader who leads by example. She is passionate about diversity and inclusion, as well as empowering and developing talented people.
Smith’s career in procurement began at Procter & Gamble in 1996 as a purchasing manager. Since then she has climbed the ranks within the industry working for QP Group, Pfizer Inc, The Executive Leadership Council, Merck, Mondelēz International, Hilton, and Novo Nordisk before joining PepsiCo.
In her current role as CPO at PepsiCo, Smith is accountable for sourcing and procurement across the entire enterprise.
