TRAILBLAZER
Patricia Stroup
Chief Procurement Officer , Nestlé
“ Farmers Feed The World !” declares Patricia Stroup , Chief Procurement Officer for Nestlé , who is a fine example of procurement ’ s pivotal role in the emerging world of ethical and sustainable sourcing
Patricia Stroup is the Chief Procurement Officer for Nestlé and has a long history in the dairy industry , with previous experience heading both North American and global dairy procurement for Nestlé , as well as earlier leadership roles at Hilmar Cheese Company in California and Maryland , and Virginia Milk Producers in Virginia .
Her career started as co-owner and manager of dairy farms in North Carolina and Pennsylvania . As Chief Procurement Officer of Nestlé , Stroup ’ s focus is on improving processes and has been instrumental in the forging of relations between Nestlé and dairy farmers , who she has always had an empathic relationship with .
For over 15 years , Stroup has helped lead the sourcing of diverse ingredients and materials for the world ’ s largest food and beverage company .
Together with her team , she works to be a part of transforming the sourcing of key commodities , not only for Nestlé , but for the industry as a whole .
She says : “ Our work has brought together priorities on social responsibility , sustainability impact , business results , and building long-term partnerships . I ’ m a deep believer in forging diverse partnerships with a team of international experts , who I have the great pleasure to count as partners .”
She holds a Bachelor ' s degree in Communications with a cognate in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech , an MBA focused on Food and Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and a leadership certificate from the London Business School .
Stroup has held the role of Chief Procurement Officer ( CPO ) twice at Nestlé , first in 2015 , and then again from 2020 onwards , following three years as Global Vice President and Head of Commodities .
When not navigating the complex procurement landscape , Stroup can be found catching up on the latest Freakonomics episode or enjoying the surrounding Swiss landscapes .
16 February 2023