Welcome to CPO News, part of our ongoing series covering the recent announcements, hirings, and notable mentions of Chief Procurement Officers and other procurement leaders. Contact us with your news story here.
Javier Echevarria Joins Ingredion as Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer
WESTCHESTER, Ill., June 13, 2022 — Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food manufacturing industry, named Javier Echevarria as vice president and chief procurement officer. He will be responsible for the global procurement organization, including supply chain operations and strategic sourcing.
According to Eric Seip, senior vice president of global operations and chief supply chain officer, “Javier is an accomplished global leader whose experience, stellar reputation, and proven track record of past performance are exceptional,” said Seip. “Investing in leading talent in procurement and supply chain is critical as we identify efficiencies for our customers and scale for the future. We look forward to having an executive of Javier’s caliber join Ingredion.”
Prior to joining Ingredion, Echevarria served as chief executive officer for VVF Americas, a manufacturing and distribution company of personal care products and oleochemicals.
UPSIDE Foods Appoints Sheetal Shah as SVP of Supply Chain & Manufacturing
BERKELEY, Calif., June 8, 2022 — UPSIDE Foods, a leading company in the cultivated meat, poultry, and seafood industry, announced the appointment of Sheetal Shah as senior vice president of supply chain and manufacturing. Shah will oversee UPSIDE’s production facilities — including its existing Engineering, Production and Innovation Center (EPIC) and future larger-scale commercial facilities and quality functions.
According to Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and Founder of UPSIDE Foods, “Sheetal has everything it takes to be an UPSIDER: a deep commitment to making our favorite foods a force for good, a proven track record of solving seemingly intractable challenges, and a passion for human health, animal welfare, and the environment,” said Valeti. “I am thrilled to welcome Sheetal to the team as we unlock some of the most critical opportunities for the cultivated meat industry.”
Shah is joining the company during a period of significant strategic growth. UPSIDE recently announced a record-breaking $400 million Series C round, providing major industry opportunities around scale, supply chain, and consumer adoption. In the last year, the business rebranded from Memphis Meats to UPSIDE Foods, announcing chicken as its first consumer product.
Prior to joining UPSIDE, Shah’s 25 years of experience include senior management roles at Impossible Foods and Verifone.
FDA Urges Drug Manufacturers to Develop Risk Management Plans
SILVER SPRING, Md., May 19, 2022 — One of the greatest public health threats is drug shortages due to supply chain disruption. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients were unable to receive critical medications. Drug production delays overseas and a breakdown of supply chain infrastructure wreaked havoc on the pharmaceutical industry.
While the impacts of the pandemic are beginning to subside, disruptions in the U.S. drug supply continue to occur due to drug quality problems, vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, unanticipated increases in demand, market withdrawals of drugs, or natural disasters.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in its ongoing efforts to mitigate drug shortages and supply chain risk, issued draft guidance, Risk Management Plans to Mitigate the Potential for Drug Shortages, to aid in the development, maintenance, and implementation of risk management plans outlined in the CARES Act passed by Congress in 2020. The CARES Act requires certain manufacturers to establish risk management plans that identify and evaluate risks to a drug’s supply.
According to the press release, the FDA says, “Today’s draft guidance is an important step in what the nation needs to achieve an increasingly secure and resilient drug supply. For Americans to have access to an uninterrupted supply of safe, effective, and high-quality drugs, all entities involved in the manufacture of a drug should take every step available to reduce risks and threats to the drug supply chain. Risk management plans can serve as a safeguard, helping manufacturers prepare for and respond to hazards that could lead to drug supply disruptions and shortages.”
Wisconsin Exceeds Diverse Spending Threshold
MADISON, Wis. — For the second-year running, Wisconsin exceeded statewide goals of spending 5% of state dollars with minority-owned enterprises (MBEs).
According to Department of Administration Secretary-Designee Kathy Blumenfeld, as part of the larger Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program FY21 Annual Report release, the state achieved a 6.34% total spend with MBEs and disabled veteran-owned businesses (DVB), the highest recorded share of overall state spending since the program began in 1983. Certified MBE and DVB businesses may receive a 5% bid preference when they bid on state contracts, per state statute.
SDP Program Director Tondra Davis, says, “Contracting and working with diverse businesses is a key component of economic equity, job, and wealth creation in diverse communities,” said Davis. “Not only have we met the MBE spend goal two years in a row, we have also reached a new record high of 6.34% and record $192M spend with diverse businesses, while expanding education and other opportunities for business owners across the state.”
