SAM DE FRATES TITLE : VICE PRESIDENT OF PROCUREMENT FOR EUROPE , CENTRAL EURASIA & TURKEY
STRATEGIC SOURCING
The world is more connected than ever . With this comes global sourcing plans for procurement which are evolving rapidly thanks to technological advancements . Global sourcing presents obstacles that could affect supply chains , ranging from geopolitical tensions to a greater emphasis on sustainability . But for procurement leaders , what does the modern landscape look like ?
Procurement Magazine speaks to Sam de Frates , Vice President of Procurement for Europe , Central Eurasia & Turkey at Mars and Onyekachi Izukanne , Co-Founder and CEO of TradeDepot , about navigating these complex dynamics through the strategic use of AI , automation and robust risk management practices , all while aligning operations with broader business objectives .
As well as views from Tony Harris , SVP at SAP Business Network and Lari Hämäläinen , Senior Partner , Technology and Advanced Industries Practices at McKinsey , who featured on Procurement Magazine online .
The role of AI and ML in global sourcing Artificial intelligence ( AI ) and machine learning ( ML ) are reinventing procurement daily as new solutions are developed continuously . These technologies are transforming global sourcing strategies by providing procurement teams with tools to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency . At Mars ,
Sam describes these tools as playing a “ crucial role ” in its procurement transformation journey , particularly in reshaping and automating simple tasks and simplifying complex processes .
“ Technology allows us to automate routine work so that we can be more efficient ,” Sam adds . “ It can democratise data by making it easy to access , tidy up and track information , such as spend , contracts and sustainability metrics , so that we can focus on the decisions and actions that we should take from those insights . When it comes
SAM DE FRATES TITLE : VICE PRESIDENT OF PROCUREMENT FOR EUROPE , CENTRAL EURASIA & TURKEY
COMPANY : MARS INDUSTRY : CONFECTIONERY
LOCATION : NORTHAMPTONSHIRE , UK
Sam has more than 15 years of experience in industry and management consulting across financial services , pharmaceuticals and consumer packaged goods . He has led and driven transformation across sourcing , operations , sustainability and quality teams for both direct and indirect categories . Sam is also the sponsor of Mars UK ’ s Disability Diversity Associate Resource Group . Before working at Mars , he held procurement roles at GSK , Barclays and Kearney .
124 September 2024