Welcome to the winter edition of CPO News! Over the past several months there have been some higher-profile appointments and promotions that occurred in the procurement world, and we wanted to highlight them this morning. So grab yourself a hot cup of coffee and get caught up.

Got any procurement news to share? Drop us a line at editor at cporising dot com. Thanks, and enjoy!

Wooten Confirmed to Lead Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Michael Wooten, Ph.D. as the Administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), the nation’s highest federal acquisition/procurement position. The OFPP is a part of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Dr. Wooten previously served as a senior acquisitions adviser at the Federal Student Loan office. His appointment fills a seat vacated by Anne Rung (click here to read about our coverage from October 2016) and held on a temporary basis by Acting Administrator, Lesley Field.

Dr. Wooten has a long and diverse career in public service, having served as a United States Marine Corps Officer for more than 16 years in various capacities, including defense acquisition and contracting. After separating from the military, Dr. Wooten led acquisition and contracting programs and taught acquisition and contracting at the Defense Acquisition University. He has also served in local government as the Director of Contracts and Procurement and, more recently, as the Deputy Chief Procurement Officer for the District of Columbia before being tapped to be a senior acquisitions adviser at the Federal Student Loan office.

If you didn’t now any better, you might think that Dr. Wooten is a “professional student,” given that he has earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Chapman University, a Master of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Management from Norwich University, a Master of Science in Management, Acquisition, and Contract Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development from the George Washington University, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. Congratulations, Dr. Wooten!

CWT Names Andrew Gunnels as its First Chief Procurement Officer

In other news, business travel management company, CWT, announced earlier this year that it has appointed Andrew Gunnels as its first ever Chief Procurement Officer. Gunnels will oversee global strategic sourcing, procurement, and real estate and facilities management, and will report to CWT’s Chief Financial Officer. This appears to be a position in which Gunnels can leverage his financial management background as well as his experience working in the travel management industry. Prior to joining CWT, Gunnels served as SVP/VP of Strategic Sourcing at First Data Bank, and before that, as Manager of Strategic Sourcing at Delta Airlines. He earned a BBA from the University of Georgia and an MBA in International Business from Instituto de Empresa. Congratulations, Mr. Gunnels!

L.A.’s Got High Hoppes with its Newest Chief Procurement Officer

Rounding out the summer, we learned that Shannon Hoppes had been named the newest Chief Procurement Officer of the City of Los Angeles, replacing  Michael Owh, who had been its first CPO. She will be tasked with streamlining the City’s contracting and sourcing operations and driving greater visibility into processes. Shannon is already a 25-year veteran of the City of Los Angeles, most recently serving as Executive Officer, Office of the City Clerk. She began her career in the mid-90s with the City’s Recreation and Parks Department. Shannon earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration and Management from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. Nicely done, Ms. Hoppes!

Oswaldo Silva Appointed CPO, EVP at Square One Farms

In late September, it was reported that Oswaldo Silva was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Square One Farms in Miramar, Florida. Silva goes to Square One with more than 25 years of experience in the food and produce industry, most recently serving in a senior procurement role at Crystal Valley Foods. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Lima, and an MBA from IE Business School. Congratulations, Mr. Silva!

Lynn Torrel Becomes Flex’s Newest Chief Supply Chain & Procurement Officer

Also in late September, Flex (NASDAQ: FLEX) announced that it has named Lynn Torrel as its newest Chief Supply Chain and Procurement Officer, replacing longtime procurement pro and CPO Rising Hall-of-Famer, Tom Linton in the role. Lynn will be responsible for a lot at Flex, notably: direct and indirect materials, transportation and logistics, business operations, materials management, and strategic supply chain management. But by all accounts she is more than up to the task, bringing more than 25 years of experience to the role. For more than 18 years, Lynn worked at Avnet, most recently as President of Avnet United and Velocity. She earned a Bachelors degree in Communications and Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and an MBA from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. Congrats, Ms. Torrel!

Keabetswe Mpane Named Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s Group CPO

Finally, we learned that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has named Keabetswe Mpane as its newest Group CPO. She joins PRASA after nearly 12 years at Transnet, where she most recently served as Head of Logistics and Transportation. Keabetswe has diplomas and post-graduate diplomas in project management from Cranefield College of Project Management. Congrats, Ms. Mpane!

RELATED ARTICLES

POTUS Nominates Dr. Michael Wooten to Lead Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Mayor of Los Angeles Appoints City’s First Chief Procurement Officer

Meet the Winners – CPO Rising Hall of Famer Tom Linton

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