The modern procurement executive must focus on a number of functional areas in order to remain competitive in today’s business world. This includes tasks like managing supplier relationships, sourcing the right materials at the right time, managing an increasing level of supply risk, and ensuring that supplier contracts are truly beneficial for the enterprise. The high number of areas that Chief Procurement Officers (“CPOs”) must pay attention to can be staggering, and many search for innovative ideas that can make these decisions more efficient. That is why the four breakout sessions at Ardent Partners’ CPO Rising 2016 Summit (click here to register) will focus on these immensely important functional areas.

In the first of two concurrent sessions, Bob Kane, Vice President, Procurement and Contracts at Ogin, Inc., will share his experiences developing a global supply chain for his employer—including managing supply risk. Kane has successfully implemented Best in Class global sourcing and supply chain strategies and solutions previously at Fortune 100 and 500 companies for a number of years, which have contributed to enhanced performance, improved quality and sustainable EBITDA gains. His presentation at the CPO Rising 2016 Summit (click here to register) will touch on his supplier development and supply risk management practices at Ogin.

Concurrent with Kane’s presentation, John Zagata, director of indirect goods and services at Spectra Energy, will speak about his experiences developing a collaborative relationship with Spectra’s general counsel’s office. Zagata has more than 20 years of procurement experience, and a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Temple University that has benefitted him extensively over his long career. Session attendees will learn strategies and approaches to collaborate with the general counsel and develop streamlined supplier contracting policies and processes from an executive who understands both sides of the conversation.

In the second rotation of breakout sessions, join procurement luminary Hal Good as he walks the audience through a strategic approach to preparing an organization to identify, mitigate, and respond to supply risk. Globalization has driven increased competition and innovation but it has also unlocked Pandora’s Box to a new world of natural and man-made disasters that can threaten the performance, operations, reputation, and profits of the business.

The last 25 years have made the world smaller, distances shorter, suppliers more plentiful, timelines tighter, risks higher and wider, and rewards greater. For companies of all sizes and maturity classes, shooting from the hip when it comes to sourcing, and hoping for the best, is no longer an option. Join Nisreen Bagasra, CEO of Optispend, as she presents the proven strategies and approaches that can help sourcing teams win in disruptive environments.

Final Thoughts

Effective sourcing, supply risk management, and contract management programs can sometimes make the difference between a procurement department that runs efficiently and one that does not. As a result, it is incumbent on chief procurement officers to uncover new and innovative ideas that can move the quality of their procurement operations forward to become more strategically valuable to the enterprise at large. The savvy CPO can learn how to do that by attending next week’s CPO Rising 2016 Summit (click here to register) at the Harvard Club in Boston’s historic Back Bay.

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