Synovus Names Kevin Gowen as Chief Information Security Officer
Last month, Synovus (NYSE: SNV), a Columbus, Georgia-based financial services company, announced that it has promoted their Chief Procurement Officer and “friend of the site,” Kevin Gowen, to Chief Information Security Officer, effective immediately. A company man, Gowen has been with Synovus for roughly 20 years, joining in 1995 as the Director of its Technology Services unit. Since then, he has climbed the ranks to Senior Director of Procurement, and until recently, Chief Procurement Officer and Group Executive, Procurement and Corporate Real Estate. Prior to joining Synovus, Gowen worked for 17 years at IBM. He received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. We wish Kevin all the best in his new role.
Coca Cola Announces Shakeup in its Procurement, Supply Chain Divisions
On March 17, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE) announced a string of personnel changes within its procurement and supply chain divisions. First, Bill Douglas, Executive Vice President of Supply Chain, will retire from Coca Cola later this year following a 30-year run with the company. Ronald Lewis will fill his position effective April 1, and leave his current position as Vice President of Procurement and Chief Procurement Officer for the Coca Cola Company. Replacing Lewis in this role will be Darlene Nicosia, currently the Vice President of Procurement and the leader of the Coca Cola Company’s Procurement Center of Excellence and Franchise Leadership. Nicosia joined the Coca Cola company in 2005 as Global Procurement Director and rose to Director of the European Group Procurement. We wish all the very best in their new roles and endeavors.
ATR Names David Brigante Senior Vice President of Procurement
Back in January, France-based ATR aerospace company named David Brigante to serve as Senior Vice President of Procurement in its newly-created procurement division. Brigante made the leap after roughly 27 years of service at the Italian aerospace company, Alenia Aermacchi, where he last served as Senior Vice President of Customer Service, and Senior Vice President of Procurement. In his new role at ATR, Brigante will oversea contract negotiations with suppliers and serve on the company’s Executive Committee. He received his degree in business administration from Federico II University in Naples, Italy.
Kaprice Harris Named Procurement Officer, Division Chief at NASA Glenn Research Center
In late February, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it has named Kaprice Harris as Procurement Officer and Chief of the Procurement Division at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. An attorney with nearly 20 years under her belt at NASA, Harris will manage the research center’s overall procurement mission, including policy development and execution. She got her start at NASA in 1996 in the Office of Procurement at the Goddard Space Flight Center before transitioning over to the Glenn Research. According to NASA Glenn Research Center Director, Jim Free, “Kaprice’s agency-wide experience combined with her leadership will be a valuable addition to our Procurement Division.” Harris received her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Maryland.
United States Air Force Reinstates FedBid
In a dramatic turn of events, the United States Air Force informed reverse auction services provider, FedBid, that it has reinstated the embattled company to once again provide its services to current and future Air Force clients, according to FCW.com. It has been noted on CPO Rising that FedBid had been suspended by the Air Force following its involvement in a procurement fraud scandal at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Air Force’s decision to reinstate FedBid follows the latter’s efforts to alleviate concerns that the government has had with the provider – namely, that FedBid founder and former CEO, Ali Saadat, sever ties with the company and not exercise influence via his status as a shareholder. Saadat had been deeply involved in the VA scandal and his leadership at FedBid had sounded alarm bells with the Air Force.
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