Welcome to the winter edition of CPO News! We’d be remiss if we didn’t begin the new year sharing some of the higher-profile appointments, promotions, and scandals that occurred in the procurement world this winter. 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!
Melody Birmingham-Byrd Named SVP and CPO at Duke Energy
Earlier this winter, Charlotte, NC-based Duke Energy announced that it has named Melody Birmingham-Byrd its newest Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer. This is a significant move for Birmingham-Byrd, who until November had served as president of Duke Energy Indiana. She began her tenure with Duke Energy in July 2012 as Senior Vice President of Midwest Operations after the company acquired Progress Energy, a firm she had worked at since 2004.
In her new role at Duke Energy supporting the main executive team, Birmingham-Byrd will oversee the energy giant’s sourcing and supply chain operations for its regulated and commercial operations. She will draw on her 20-plus years of experience supporting internal and external customers in the electric and automotive manufacturing industries. Birmingham-Byrd earned her Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and her MBA from Strayer University; completed an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School; and received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Congrats, Melody and best of luck!
Avon Tries on a New Shade of Procurement, Names David Hernandez CPO
On January 7, Avon Products, Inc. uncapped its newest CPO, David Hernandez. A 24-year veteran of sourcing, procurement, and category management on two continents, Hernandez was lured away from his role as Global Chief Procurement Officer at Groupa Bimbo, a role he held for more than six years. Prior to that, Hernandez held progressively senior executive and management roles in supply chain, sourcing, procurement, marketing, and category management, serving as Chief Supply Chain Officer at Deoleo S.A., and a variety of roles at Danone.
In his new role at Avon, Hernandez will report to the SVP of Global Supply Chain for the worldwide beauty products manufacturer and will design and implement a first-class sourcing and procurement operation that will synergize with the company’s larger transformation efforts across its supply chain. He will look to drive cost savings, efficiencies, and enhanced relationships across Avon’s existing commercial and supply chain operations. Hernandez will draw on his more than two decades of experience in global supply chain management and procurement. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemical Engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute, a General Management Diploma, and then an MBA from Tecnológico de Monterrey. Congrats, David!
Bryant Lowery Named JBT’s Newest EVP and CPO
In other news, JBT Corporation, a Chicago-based global technology solutions provider to the food and beverage industry, announced the appointment of Bryant Lowery as its newest Executive Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer. He will drive supply chain consolidation and look to optimize JBT’s supplier base across its global scale. Prior to joining JBT, Lowery served as VP of Global Supply Chain for Fortive’s Gilbarco Veeder-Root Division. He brings 20 years of experience in automotive and electronics manufacturing, including stints at Johnson Controls, Dell, and Whirlpool. Lowery earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Wayne State University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Well done, Bryant!
Australian Modern Slavery Act Becomes Law, But Lacks Enforcement Regime
Last month, the Australian government passed its own version of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act, hailing the first nation-wide legislative effort to address the scourge of modern slavery in Australia and Asia-Pacific, more broadly. The Act, passed by Australia’s House of Representatives after amendments were proposed by the Senate, requires that businesses, government institutions, and some non-governmental organizations operating in Australia with revenues of $100 million or more annually report their risk exposure to modern slavery and remediation efforts made.
However, critics contend that the law lacks teeth, as there are no enforcement measures in place to compel reporting and compliance. These measures apparently stalled or were removed as the law was drafted and amended. And there are efforts underway to institute an enforcement regime, including a dedicated commissioner and penalties for non-compliance. As is, the government can only issue a “please explain” letter to companies that fail to report and comply with the law. There are no monetary fines or penalties for this, or for false or misleading reporting. Civil redress can only be considered three years after the law is implemented.
Modern slavery includes human trafficking, orphanage trafficking, child prostitution, child labor, forced labor (particularly under hazardous working conditions), forced marriage, and debt bondage. It affects an estimated 40 million people in the world today, particularly in Asia-Pacific, where roughly half of the victims are thought to be in some form of modern slavery. There are thought to be roughly 15,000 living and working in Australia that meet the definition of modern slaves.
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