Top 10: Purchasing Leaders
Purchasing leaders are pivotal figures for modern procurement operations, driving an organisation's success. Often holding the title of Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) or Head of Procurement, these senior leaders are at the forefront of strategic sourcing and supply chain management.
Their role extends far beyond traditional cost-cutting measures, encompassing supplier relationship management, risk mitigation, sustainability initiatives and digital transformation.
As organisations increasingly recognise the paramount importance of procurement, these leaders are shaping company-wide strategies and contributing significantly to bottom-line results.
Often leading their team through complex global supply chains, they leverage cutting-edge technologies and drive innovation through strategic partnerships.
In an era of rapid change and uncertainty, purchasing leaders are instrumental in building resilient, efficient and sustainable business operations.
Procurement Magazine looks at the ten outstanding Purchasing Leaders who are redefining the procurement function and setting the standard of excellence in their field.
10. Klaus Staubitzer - Chief Procurement Officer, Siemens
Revenue: (Approx) US$ 86.52bn
Employees: 320,000
Founded: 1847
Klaus Staubitzer has been with Siemens for over 25 years, serving as CPO since 2014. His career at Siemens began in 1996, encompassing roles in procurement, process consulting and strategic marketing.
Klaus holds a PhD in Economics from UniversitÀt der Bundeswehr in Munich and serves as an Advisory Board Member for Procurement Leaders. His extensive experience and academic background have been instrumental in shaping Siemens' procurement strategies.
9. Rhonda England - CPO, Deloitte
Revenue: US$64.9bn
Employees: 457,000
Founded: 1845
As CPO at Deloitte, Rhonda England leads a team of procurement, supplier sustainability and diversity experts. She focuses on building strong relationships with strategic suppliers to deliver superior cost savings and return on investment.
Rhonda's leadership also drives a meaningful impact on Deloitte's global WorldClimate strategy and commitment to a diverse and inclusive supplier base, aligning procurement practices with broader organisational goals.
8. Bertrand Conquéret - Chief Procurement Officer, Henkel
Revenue: (Approx) US$23.93bn
Employees: 47,750
Founded: 1876
Bertrand Conquéret oversees procurement at Henkel, a global chemical and consumer goods company. As President of Henkel Global Supply Chain B.V., he has transformed Henkel's procurement into a top-performing organisation.
Bertrand co-founded two non-profit organisations: Together for Sustainability (TfS) and the Sustainable Procurement Pledge (SPP) alongside Thomas Udesen, Chief Procurement Officer at Bayer.
His expertise spans global supply chain management, strategic relationships, digital transformation and organisational culture, emphasising that "Procurement is more than a role; it is a responsibility."
7. Shashi Mandapaty, Chief Procurement Officer, Johnson & Johnson
Revenue: US$85.16bn
Employees: 134,400
Founded: 1886
Guiding Johnson & Johnsonâs strategy for delivering value, quality and innovation through responsible sourcing. Shashi Mandapaty has deep experience leading procurement organisations and brings a global perspective to his role, having lived and worked in diverse cultures and economies across Asia, Europe and North America.
Shashi is passionate about building strong relationships with suppliers to create innovative healthcare solutions.
6. Jennifer Moceri - Chief Procurement Officer, Google
Revenue: US$305.6bn
Employees: 182,502
Founded: 1998
Jennifer Moceri, CPO at Google, is an established global executive with extensive experience in consumer, automotive and food ingredients industries. Recognised as a highly accountable and resilient leader, Jennifer focuses on building collaborative relationships and driving continuous improvement.
Her passion lies in organisational transformation and developing talent to enable growth, improve profitability and increase customer value.
5. Maxime Picat - Chief Global Purchasing & Supply Chain Officer, Stellantis
Revenue: (Approx) US$210.86bn
Employees: 258,275
Founded: 2021
Maxime Picat was appointed Chief Purchasing and Supply Chain Officer at Stellantis in June 2022. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe. Maxime joined Groupe PSA in 1998, gaining extensive industrial experience.
In his current role, he focuses on strategising procurement practices, understanding market dynamics, and ensuring competitiveness in an increasingly uncertain environment.
4. Michael van Keulen - Chief Procurement Officer, Coupa Software
Revenue: US$1bn
Employees: 3,076
Founded: 2006
Michael Van Keulen joined Coupa as CPO in 2020, bringing experience from finance, technology and retail sectors. His career began at Arthur Anderson before transitioning to roles at Foot Locker and lululemon.
At Coupa, Michael emphasises the importance of finance acumen in procurement and fact-based decision-making.
His approach aligns with Coupa's goal of optimising procurement, sourcing and supply chain operations for its users.
3. Patricia Stroup - Chief Procurement Officer, Nestlé
- Revenue: US$109.94bn
- Employees: 270,000
- Founded: 1866
Patricia Stroup's nearly two-decade tenure as CPO at Nestlé has been marked by significant transformations in sourcing practices. She focused on diversifying commodity sourcing, fostering international collaborations and balancing social responsibility with business performance.
Patricia's leadership extended beyond Nestlé, influencing the wider procurement sector. Her recent retirement leaves a legacy of innovation and influential leadership in both the food and beverage industry and procurement field.
2. Willem Uijen - Chief Procurement Officer, Unilever
- Revenue: (Approx) US$66.2bn
- Employees: 127,000
- Founded: 1929
Willem Uijen, Unilever's CPO since 2022, oversees the oversight purchasing from over 52,000 suppliers. He champions sustainable sourcing initiatives and leverages technology to optimise the supply chain.
Willem's approach focuses on empowering his team and adapting his leadership style to drive value through competitive buying, innovation and supply chain resilience. Sustainability is integral to procurement decisions, with a focus on achieving net zero emissions and using recycled plastics.
The 'Partner with Purpose' strategy encourages responsible innovation and mutual growth with suppliers. His priorities include competitive buying to fund brand investments and intervening in the wider value chain.
He sees addressing climate change and social cohesion as key challenges, with initiatives like regenerative agriculture aimed at reducing emissions and improving sourcing resilience.
1. Thomas Udesen - Chief Procurement Officer, Bayer
- Revenue: (Approx) US$42.30bn
- Employees: 101,369
- Founded: 1863
Thomas Udesen, Bayer's CPO, boasts a distinguished 30-year career in procurement. He joined Bayer in 2014 after roles at The East Asiatic Company and Johnson and Johnson. Thomas is also the Co-Founder of The Sustainable Procurement Pledge (SPP), aiming to embed UN Sustainable Development Goals into procurement practices by 2030.
At Bayer, he leads the global procurement strategy, focusing on process optimisation and enhancing supplier relationships. Under his leadership, Bayer joined the Together for Sustainability initiative and the Science Based Targets initiative, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Thomas emphasises the power of procurement professionals to drive positive change, advocating for action over innovation.
Make sure you check out the latest edition of Procurement Magazine and also sign up to our global conference series - Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE 2025
Procurement Magazine is a BizClik brand