Top 10: Supplier Diversity Leaders in Procurement
In recent years, supplier diversity has gained significant traction, 85% of US companies alone have a dedicated supplier diversity programme and 68% of global organisations have increased internal pressures since 2021.
The benefits of supplier diversity are clear with organisations seeing a 133% greater return on procurement investments, and those prioritising supplier diversity spend 20% less on their buy operations.
With this in mind, Procurement Magazine honours 10 supplier diversity leaders influencing and shaping the procurement and supply chain industry.
Christopher Stanley - State Street
Vice President of Global Supplier Diversity at State Street, Christopher Stanley is an innovative business leader with more than 15 years of accomplishment in leading project management initiatives for diverse corporations.
Stanley is a strategic planner and creative problem solver, with a track record of delivering desired results, cost savings, streamlining corporate operations, and enhancing profit performance.
Stanley employs a collaborative approach when it comes to building cross-functional teams to exceed internal and external stakeholder expectations. He also has a passion for mentoring and acting as an advocate for new business professionals.
Prior to joining State Street, Stanley worked for AIG, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Chevron, Shel, and CenterPoint Energy.
Amber Hicks - American Express
Collaborative and results-driven, Amber Hicks is the Vice president of Category Management and Supplier Diversity at American Express.
Hicks has spent the last 20+ years in strategy, marketing, product management, strategic sourcing and procurement, and supplier diversity. She is well positioned as an innovative and dynamic leader delivering strategic solutions grounded in customer insights and analytics.
Known for her ability to build diverse, highly motivated teams with a strong culture of growth, collaboration, and development, Hicks is passionate about delivering meaningful impact at scale empowering her team to deliver with excellence.
Breana (Feiller) Chan - JPMorgan Chase & Co.
First joining JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2019, Breana Chain joined as Vice-President of Global Supplier Services. Today she is the Vice President of Global Supplier Diversity at the financial services company.
For over 25 years, Chan has been helping companies large and small to save money and mitigate risk through consistent and effective negotiations and supplier management. Chan is passionate about supplier diversity and works to increase diversity in the workplace. She believes that relationships and networking are key to all business ventures.
Carla Cobb - Fifth Third Bank
With a career spanning more than 30 years, Carla Cobb is a leader and influencer in the sourcing and procurement industry. As Vice President and Director of Supplier Diversity at Fifth Third Bank, Cobb is responsible for leading the supplier diversity program by identifying ways to increase spend and make an impact in the community.
Before joining Fifth Third Bank, Cobb dedicated 30 years to Procter & Gamble.
Shendora Pridgen - Morgan Stanley
Shendora Pridgen is an experienced Executive Director with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Pridgen has been with Morgan Stanley for 27 years, working her way up from Analyst to the role she holds today as Executive Director and Global Head of Supplier Diversity & Sustainable Sourcing.
In her role, she oversees the company’s supplier diversity program globally including the development and implementation of new initiatives to continuously grow the programme. She also oversees sustainable sourcing, evaluating the global supply chain from an ESG standpoint to mitigate risk to the firm.
Rona Fourté - CBRE
As Vice President and Head of Global Supplier Diversity of one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firms - CBRE - Rona Fourté oversees the development and implementation of strategies and programmes that promote the inclusion and utilisation of diverse suppliers.
Fourté has over 25 years of experience in finance, procurement, and business diversity, and has a passion for creating value and impact through supplier diversity and vendor management.
Denise Naguib - Marriott International
Most recently taking on the role of Vice President of Sustainability and Supplier Diversity at Marriott International, Denise Naguib has been working at the company for over 18 years.
Naguib is an advocate of sustainability and supplier diversity, particularly in the hospitality industry. She is also on the board of several foundations including The Ocean Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, WEConnect International, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
Lori Averso - PVH Corporation
First joining PVH Corporation in 2016, Lori Averso has been with the organisation for 7 years. Currently, Averso is the Group Vice President of Global Procurement and Supplier Diversity.
Aervso has a BS in Marketing from Stockton University and has worked for the likes of Verizon Wireless, Aeropostale, and Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Dominique Sellers, CISA - Paramount
An experienced professional with more than 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and auditing, Dominique Sellers, CISA is currently the Vice President of Supplier Diversity and Sustainable Sourcing at Paramount.
Prior to Paramount, Sellers worked for 13 years at consulting company - PwC. Her areas of expertise include end-to-end process improvements, metric reporting, and strategy development. She is currently responsible for maximising procurement opportunities with diverse businesses as suppliers and subcontractors.
Purvee K. - SEPHORA
Taking on the role of Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, Indirect Procurement, and Supplier Diversity at SEPHORA in 2022, Purvee K. is a forward-thinking procurement executive. She has transformed organisational capabilities across diverse industries, creating world-class risk management and vendor programs.
Using data-driven insights to influence market decisions and convey the business impact of transformative technologies, K has a keen understanding of AI, big data, blockchain and machine learning.
K is a trailblazing leader and a champion for diversity and inclusion.
