Past Speakers (2018)

Before taking on the top procurement job at Prudential Global Digital Services, Richard held leading procurement positions at the Co-Op Bank and Rolls-Royce. Combined with his background in consultancy at McKinsey and as an Officer in the British Army, Richard’s deep knowledge and understanding of the procurement profession position him perfectly to steer discussions as Chairman, and a Panel Moderator at ProcureCon IT. 

Nicholas acts as Commercial lead for IT services vendors to BP, managing Cloud platform sourcing for BP IT&S, PaaS and IaaS (Public/Hybrid/Private), on prem-Global Hosting Services, Brokerage and other cloud orchestration utilities. He is also responsible for strategy and change, namely the development and execution of the commercial strategy and associated sourcing events to support of a number of high profile, strategic transformation initiatives, which includes commercial lead to BP's cloud transformation programme which is an enterprise wide programme moving BP's existing on-prem infra into the cloud. He is also responsible for managing the commercial, contractual and governance relationships between BP and those suppliers delivering into the global hosting category space, such as AWS, Azur, HPE and ServiceNow. Nicholas will be hosting the Roundtable ‘The Escape Hatch: Mastering Smooth Exit Strategies With Suppliers’ on the 6th December.

Drive sourcing strategy for GE end-users’ IT equipment and services for all GE Business units globally. Establish strong partnership with IT Executives and internal customers to align Sourcing strategy upfront. Run RFPs from specification development, data collection, commercials definition to contract negotiations. Manage global suppliers’ performances to drive optimum services efficiency. Maintain global commodity supplier database and ensure compliance.

2018 initiatives:  Insourced all IT Deskside services in the 5 regions from Help Desk to end user support, driving 30% cost-out globally. Implemented Managed Print Services Strategy with one Global partner for all GE Business units.

Gauthier manages the global IT & Telco category spend of more than 1B€/year, with a direct team of 60 global category managers/buyers and country buyers in 13 countries for Group global entities and regions. Gauthier will be contributing to the Panel Discussion ‘From Pipe Dream To Reality - How Can You Establish Global Contracts Leveraging Global Relationships And Volume?’ on the 6th December.

Stefano is a Strategic Sourcing Manager, with a focus on IT hardware and accessories, software and spend analytics. 

Nour is a procurement leader and sourcing strategist, and is currently leading Royal Philips Global IT Procurement team. He is member of Philips CIO leadership team, and supporting Philips largest transformation programs and enabling the company Digital strategy.

Hans joined SHV Energy in October 2018, and was previously at Heineken. Hans has extensive hands-on experience in negotiating and leading sourcing for the Software, Telecoms, Outsourcing, Consultancy and IT Hardware categories.  He is a proponent of the Best Value Procurement method, and has recently added the title of ‘Zero Bad Cost Project Manager’ to his job description.  Hans is on the ProcureCon IT 2018 Advisory Board. 

Matt is responsible for Indirect Procurement across the Arriva Group in 14 European countries.  He has extensive expertise in negotiation, commercial analysis, contract management and project delivery. 

Marion joined Asahi (previously SABMiller) 3.5 years ago, supporting regional procurement and category management where she focuses on bringing procurement expertise to the IT organization in subcategories such as IS services, infrastructure and software/licenses. In her current role, she is also responsible for vendor management.  In the last year, Marion supported the divestment of ABInbev and now is helping the transformation to bring Asahi to a best-in class IT organisation.

Yara is a chemicals company with a worldwide presence with more than 16,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries.  Fernanda has 17 years of international experience in operations and strategic procurement, and is skilled at delivering cost savings in high pressured environments.  Yara is going through an interesting phase in Procurement and IT with major transformations underway in both areas. 

Teemu is the Co-Founder of Dealsign, and was previously responsible for IT procurement, IT architecture and PMO for the Finnair Group, and a member of the IT leadership team, where he managed 10 people in the areas of Procurement, IT architecture and project management.  Dealsign is an easy to use negotiation and contracting service in the cloud. Our mission is to make negotiating, signing and managing contracts easy and fast for businesses of every size. Dealsign’s core innovations make it possible to negotiate with multiple parties online, in real time, with no worries about versions and change histories. 

Suneet leads the Global Strategic Sourcing function for the IT category, and is responsible for identifying and delivering value based on category management excellence to manage the annual spend. He drives category expertise through an understanding of required technologies, geographical spread, supply markets/ trends, cost drivers and the impact to Lonza’s business model.  He develops supplier relationships that leverage supplier capabilities, improve supply continuity and reduce the total cost of ownership, and collaborates and supports the IT and Supply Chain leadership in implementing global strategies.

Eric is a member of the Aegon Global IT Procurement team and provides overall direction and leadership for the development and execution of global IT procurement programmes. He manages and owns the development, implementation and support of global procurement technology and sourcing to payment processes.  Eric is on the ProcureCon IT 2018 Advisory Board.

Kewin supports and oversees all IT Outsourcing initiatives of all Lidl and Kaufland entities overseas (outside of Germany). In this role he runs the IT Sourcing department and oversee the entire outsourcing lifecycle, including but not limited to the development and implementation of outsourcing strategies, contract and commercial negotiations, partner on and off boarding for IT services of more than 12,000 stores, and 150 regional centres in 30 countries.

AGCO is a $9 billion manufacturer and wholesaler of heavy agricultural equipment with headquarters in Duluth, Georgia. It has an indirect spend of $548 million of which IT spend is $85 million. Sanjeev is responsible for negotiating cost savings with a variety of IT suppliers, re-sellers, contractors and consultants.  He is experienced in establishing the processes to manage large IT and Telecommunication acquisitions, and has global experience in managing IT acquisitions.

Gordon is managing a global team of IT Sourcing Professionals focusing on strategic and key firm initiatives to deliver commercial value.  He was previously in a variety of sourcing roles at Morgan Stanley, Sainsburys and Thomson Reuters. 

Ascensia Diabetes produces blood glucose measuring devices and is a leading supplier globally for diabetes treatment. Ascensia is a fully owned subsidiary of Panasonic Healthcare.  Previously Phil held a variety of sourcing roles at Tandem Bank, Barclays and SAB Miller. 

Graham has overall responsibility for the quality of CASME’s RoundTable and Virtual RoundTable programme, with over 175 events delivered per year. He is also a leading facilitator and procurement analyst and develops benchmarking activities covering a broad range of procurement categories and practices. Prior to joining CASME he spent 25 years working in procurement for the music industry within an operational and marketing environment.

Michelle is responsible for various indirect products and services across multiple business lines, interfacing with internal customers in order to understand their requirements. She is involved in strategic sourcing support for special projects, and contributing to the development of business system initiatives and enhancements.  Previously Michelle had a variety of sourcing roles at Apple, Intuit and Salesforce.

Jean-Pascal (JP) specializes in competitive telecommunications pricing models, corporate network design and telecom services optimization and procurement. He has developed a suite of telecom pricing models and optimization techniques to help Global 1000 companies strategically source their portfolio of telecom products and services.  JP co-authored the very first articles about bandwidth commoditization and has given numerous workshops and seminars on telecommunications policy, pricing, procurement, and bandwidth commoditization in the United States, Asia and Europe.  He regularly consults for Fortune 100 companies on issues such as telecom benchmarking, service optimization, procurement practices, SLAs, and SLA remedies.

Michael’s 20 years’ experience including 10 years in global leadership roles have made him a recognised expert in strategic sourcing/procurement, sourcing business partnership, off-shoring/outsourcing, category management, supply chain management, and distribution. He has proven success working in complex virtual multicultural line and international matrix organisations, and a strong track record of achievement in IT sourcing and procurement as well as enterprise IT services in OEM/re-selling/system integration and internal use. 

Procurement leader with a broad knowledge of best in class procurement processes and in depth knowledge and experience in the ICT cluster. Always focussed on generating true business value. Successful in motivating the procurement team and business partners by passionately shaping, developing, and delivering the procurement strategy. Proven track record in achieving sustainable value year on year. Easily connecting with business leaders and supplier executives. Having deep understanding of mature contract and supplier management.

Ian is a Globally experienced leader in Software Consulting Services and Software Asset Management.Prior to joining Cloud Optics Ian was responsible for building, transforming and leading one the largest specialist Consulting practices in EMEA for the world's largest Software Reseller. Under his leadership the consulting business unit grew to over 85 consultants delivering > $ 15m consulting services revenue / annum.Additionally, has a successful track record for designing and building Cloud Applications that facilitate the delivery and management of key Licence Consulting project components.

Jordy is one of the leading global Microsoft contract and licensing experts with more than 15 years of licensing sales and consulting experience gained at the world’s largest Software Reseller. As a Global Account Manager and later the lead consultant heading up the largest licensing consulting engagements he was responsible for over 100 engagements across EMEA. In the recent years, he focussed primarily on the most complex engagement which included the transition to the cloud in almost all engagements.

LogSentinel provides a blockchain-inspired secure audit trail service providing log aggregation and compliance. Bozhidar is a software engineer and has worked on various projects in the fields of telecommunications, navigation systems and e-government. He is a former e-Government adviser at the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria, where he participated in the drafting and implementation of legislative and strategic changes to ensure the successful implementation of eGovernment. He is currently an Executive Director at LogSentinel, responsible for the overall product development and information security.

Ana has more than 13 years experience in the field of general and IT Strategic Sourcing and Procurement.  She is a lover of IoT, AI, automated processes, blockchain, startups, the sharing economy, hackathons and sustainability. She is also a believer in old-fashioned networking with people who share the same energy, creativity and attitude to innovations. In the last 12 months she has led sourcing initiatives on HCM Solution, HIP, Next Gen Security, Consumer Care, IGA, IoT, and eCommerce. Blockchain, RPA, VCA, AI Foundation and Digital Twins are next.

In his role as IT Category Buyer, Hitesh has been responsible for sourcing activity for a range of projects and requirements in relation to IT software, professional services and telecoms.  Hisrole also involves SRM activity for a number key suppliers to the business.

Hugh is a senior consultant at Livingstone. He has over 20 years of experience in IT and IT asset management including a strong background in IT service delivery gained in the financial sector. Hugh is passionate about helping organisations to achieve a more holistic, integrated approach to SAM that combines governance, analytics and business processes together to create a practical and sustainable SAM operation that generates real value. 

Mike joined RSA in March 2017 to focus on identifying and unlocking global opportunities, increasing collaboration between regions on procurement initiatives and driving more value out of key strategic vendor relationships.  Mike is on the ProcureCon IT 2018 Advisory Board.

Panos leads the Purchases GDPR and Third Party Risk Management teams for P&G. He is also leading P&G’s thinking on how to assess and act on vendor Information Security and sits on P&G’s InfoSec Lead Team. He has a passion for exponential technologies, has led P&G IT and services sourcing teams for the last 8 years and in his previous role he was leading P&G’s sourcing group on Automation, Machine Learning and Blockchain. 

A consistent high achieving IT leader, with extensive experience in blue chip  organisations of diverse sectors like insurance, Big Four consultancy, healthcare, utilities, FMCG, and manufacturing. Strategically and commercially focused, with a proven track record of delivering exceptional results in IT, Digital, RPA, Telecoms, BPO, Cyber security and Professional Services.

Experienced in the formulating and executing commercial strategies globally, major outsourcing programmes and vendor management; with excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiating skills. Having negotiated major contracts with large vendors such as IBM, Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, BT, AT&T, Telefonica, Accenture, Cap Gemini, TCS, Cognizant. Highly specialised in cloud deals with the likes of Azure, AWS, Workday; and cybersecurity such as Forescout, Zscaler, Secureworks.

Experience in working with start and scale up companies both in the selection and partnering with them for the delivery of agile innovative programmes of change.

Engaging and collaborative, with extensive  experience of leading and operating in global teams with stakeholders and direct reports in diverse geographies and time zones. With a balance of strategic and hands on leadership, focused on team performance and collaboration delivering outstanding productivity (savings, efficiencies and growth) in the business. 

Founder of the IT Women Network at Bupa

Elvan heads IT & Telecom partnership globally. She has been at UCB since 2008 driving category strategies, enabling technology as a catalyst in creating value through new insights, creative approaches,   developing solid and collaborative partnerships between IT and global purchasing, leading digital initiatives among categories and delivering impactful outcomes. Recently, she led supplier relationship management discipline in IT to support digital transformation by unlocking the potential of high-value suppliers and become a customer of choice to facilitate negotiations at UCB.

Neal has held senior procurement positions in several large organisations, and also spent time as an independent consultant. His market experience includes pharmaceuticals, utilities, IT service providers, central government and telco network operators. At AstraZeneca Neal is currently the global IT procurement lead for Applications and Infrastructure, having previously had global responsibility for the End User Computing category.

Doug is a Guru on networking, behavioural psychology and relationship management who has designed a specific session to help you improve relationships inside your SC organisation and with your external suppliers and partners.

Miro is an experienced Global IT Category Manager with a demonstrated history of negotiating complex, multi-million USD licensing agreements. He is currently focusing on R&D Software requirements of Nokia and driving synergy savings following the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent. 

Leigh has 23 years of Supply Chain Experience, 20 of which are in the international arena. She obtained various supply chain qualifications at universities across South Africa and now has 22 years of management experience in this field. Leigh is a global and international business expert and has facilitated countless global projects, leveraging her extensive experience in supply chain mapping, customs process and procedures and procurement modeling.   The majority of her time is spend with global organisations helping them model their optimum international IT supply chain. She has been with Dimension Data for a collective 20 years, 17 in South Africa and 3 in the United States.  

As general manager for the Benelux area within ReLicense, Guus is part of a team of specialists offering guaranteed, audited and future-proof alternatives to traditional licensing solution which tremendously reduce the software TCO. Alternatively ReLicense offers a model to recapitalize legacy software assets, or "shelfware" what could help you fund innovation plans.  ReLicense is a "pre-owned" software licensing reseller since 2008 and has developed an audited process of legal and operational excellence for compliantly executing transactions in this market. We advise our clients in the possibilities and impossibilities with pre-owned software licenses and together with our clients we develop business cases and scenario's on how their organization is able to benefit the advantages from this market.

John has been director of Hanson Regan, for over 12 years, supplying contingent expertise to international clients, enabling major IT Transformation Programmes. Before Hanson Regan, John was a Quality Assurance and Testing Consultant, an early client champion, delivering fit for purpose software, enabling enterprise applications. In 36 years we’ve learned a lot ; the world continues to improve ; yet there are clients who are, right now, leading themselves to doom ; “We were naive clients” they say. Will your company be the next; are there tell-tale signs ? What can you do? Join us for an inspiring and naïve-busting hour.

For the last 10 years Fred has been a key pillar in the procurement function of the Vodafone Group, heading up the IT procurement function since 2013. Having a financial background, Fred has track record in closing big deals for the Group amongst which various BSS Transformation projects, multi market Managed Services deals for application and infrastructure services, Enterprise License Agreements and Infrastructure Hardware. Also the definition of procurement strategies for the new areas of IT such as Cloud computing, Big Data analytics, XaaS, Chatbots, Robotic Process Automation and Blockchain is being developed under his leadership. The current annual spend is approximately €2.5bn across 26 markets.

With more than 14 years of experience within indirect procurement and in private sector procurement in general, Luis was responsible for a year long change program A.P.Moller-Maersk in its aim to mitigate the group’s financial and legal risk of managing software.  Having worked in line manager roles in multinationals such as A.P.Moller Maersk, Novo Nordisk, Rockwool International  and as a Consulting Director for companies like British American Tobacco and A.B. Inbev, he brings substantial subject matter experience as well as a proven track record of results in executing and delivering strategic projects and cost savings to organizations.

With a background in EU business and law, I bring together the business and the vendor, translating the demand into commercially attractive and contractually sustainable solution. I support my stakeholders within the areas of IT Procurement, IT Sourcing, Contract and Vendor Management – previously with Maersk Line IT and currently with Carlsberg Global Business Services, with the special focus on global software agreements for the last 3 years. In Carlsberg I hold responsibility for major contract and vendor relationship with SAP, Microsoft, Service Now, as well as other software vendors. I am also managing full scale sourcing (RFP) process for IT services and solutions.

Razvan Tarnovschi joined Insight directly from Oracle following an 11 year career at the software publisher. Having worked in contract administration, contract negotiation and commercial roles, across multiple EMEA geographies, Razvan has an intimate understanding of how this complex software publisher operates and exactly what it will and will not negotiate on, knowledge he now shares with our clients to help empower their negotiations with Oracle. 

Tomorrow Street is an innovation centre focusing on growing late stage startups through the power of Vodafone's global footprint. We collaborate with young companies with a live product and an active customer base, and focus primarily on the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence /Big Data Analytics, and Security. A joint venture between the Vodafone Procurement Company and Technoport, Tomorrow Street is based in Luxembourg.

Julien has over 14 years experience as Senior IT Project and Program Manager within Volvo Group. In his function he oversees the most strategic and transformational IT Projects affecting IT Infrastructure. He manages the contractual relationship with the top Vendors for the relevant technologies. This ranges from End User IT Environments to Outsourcing / Insourcing Projects as well as Software Asset Management for Mega Vendors and strategic Software Suppliers.

Morten Andersen is a highly experienced Oracle consultant, with detailed knowledge on contracts, concessions and negotiations gained through nearly a decade spent working in commercial and management roles at Oracle. Morten uses his knowledge and expertise to help our clients take back control in an Oracle contract renewal, major transaction or compliance audit settlement. 

Jean-Marc is responsible for the pipeline creation, subcategory strategies and category management for the Barclays Global IT Infrastructure comprising Hosting/Data Centre, Collaboration and Foundation services.

Michelle joined KPN in 2017, a market-leading ICT and telecommunications firm in the Netherlands, where her role will focus on increasing the value procurement brings to KPN.  Michelle was recently listed as ‘One To Watch’ on Supply Management’s Procurement Power List, and is on the ProcureCon IT 2018 Advisory Board. 

Felix is responsible with his team for the implementation of Design to Cost activities across all Services categories within Vodafone SCM. This means capability building, change management and delivering specific Sourcing project support from a Cost understanding aspect across the supply chain.

Signify, formerly known as Philips Lighting, is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things, and had 2017 sales of €7billion, with approximately 32,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. Ankur is a member of the IT management team, and is responsible for driving overall vendor engagement, performance, relationships and innovations with the top strategic partners and vendors to shape up the global Lighting IT landscape.

Anshul is a technology professional with over 12 years of experience and a die-hard passion for building award winning mobile, web products & disruptive technologies. He is the founder of Razr Tech, Luxembourg - A new age technology company working with clients like Vodafone, ArcelorMittal, EY etc in building & implementing AI/Automation strategies & platforms for telcos, manufacturing domains apart from running his own products.  Razr Tech is a digitally native full-service software development lab working on AI & Automation as our focus areas. We believe in empowering businesses and solving our client’s toughest challenges through digital innovation and disruptions. Combining more than a decade of experience in creative, tech development, digital marketing, branding, strategy, analytics & industry knowledge, we work in close collaboration with our clients to help them achieve their business goals. We empower our partners through data and insight driven solutions, knowing we’ve got what it takes to bring their vision to life.