Welcome to Procurement News, part of our ongoing aggregate news series covering recent supply management headlines and trends pertinent to Chief Procurement Officers and other procurement leaders. Contact us with your news story here.
CPO News
Tim Ritz Joins Walmart as CPO
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced in an internal memo obtained by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal and reported in TB&P that Tim Ritz will join Walmart as the retailer’s new chief procurement officer. Ritz is replacing DK Singh, who held the position since 2018. Singh left Walmart in August.
In the memo, CFO John David Rainey said Ritz will be responsible for delivering strategic business solutions that support business partnerships, enhance service, and maximize value for customers and shareholders.
According to TB&P, Ritz comes to Walmart from PayPal, where he has spent the past eight years leading procurement and real estate for the financial tech firm. He also held leadership roles in supply chain and procurement operations at Hertz and United Airlines.
“Tim brings two decades of experience leading complex procurement organizations across industries. Throughout his career, he had built a strong track record for helping businesses deliver meaningful improvements to cost and efficiency through effective supplier relationship management,” Rainey noted in the announcement.
IAC Group Appoints Larry Vano CPO
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — International Automotive Components Group (IAC Group), a leading global supplier of automotive components and systems, announced the addition of Larry Vano to its executive leadership team as the chief procurement officer.
According to Kevin Baird, CEO of IAC Group, “Leveraging Larry’s extensive expertise and innovative strategies to enhance operational efficiency and drive positive change will undoubtedly strengthen IAC Group’s position in the market,” he said. “His dedication to organizational transformation and talent development aligns perfectly with our vision for the future.”
The company stated that over the span of his career, Vano has successfully executed a number of leading, significant global transformations of procurement, including the introduction of new global commodity and program purchasing models, augmenting global capabilities, and bringing a fresh approach to strategic sourcing and risk and opportunity transparency.
“I’m genuinely excited to join IAC Group as Chief Supply Chain and Procurement Officer. The company’s reputation for being at the forefront of automotive interior solutions and their commitment to innovation and excellence is truly commendable,” said Vano. “I’m eager to leverage my experience and contribute to the next chapter of IAC Group’s success story.”
Read the full announcement here.
Julie Rameas Named CPO for Nephron Pharmaceuticals
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced Julie Rameas as chief procurement officer. In her new role, Rameas will oversee all strategic sourcing and procurement activities.
The company stated that Rameas is an experienced professional with proven success in the pharmaceutical, medical device, metal, electronic, aerospace, automotive, and textile manufacturing industries.
Before joining the Nephron team, Rameas served as senior director of global strategic procurement at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she led spending activities for over 800 global sites, and managed multiple global expansion and construction projects.
According to Lou Kennedy, Nephron CEO and owner, “We could not be more excited to welcome Julie to the team. Her rock star resume and body of work speaks for itself,” he said.
“From leading manufacturers to global success to blazing trails in textiles, Julie is precisely the kind of professional, who will help lead the continued growth and expansion of our company, and that is a great thing for those who depend on Nephron for life-saving medications,” Kennedy added.
Read the full announcement here.
NN, Inc. Appoints David Harrison as Its First CPO
CHARLOTTE, N.C., — NN, Inc., a global diversified industrial company that manufactures high-precision components and assemblies, announced the appointment of David Harrison to chief procurement officer.
In this role, Harrison is responsible for leading and transforming the company’s procurement and supply chain function globally. He brings more than three decades of experience in manufacturing, operations, and business transformation.
According to Tim French, chief operating officer, “I am excited to welcome David as NN’s first chief procurement officer. Both Harold Bevis and I have had the pleasure of working with David in the past,” said French.
“He brings a wealth of industry specific experience and a proven track record of driving transformational improvement in the procurement area with organizations significantly larger than NN. David is a great addition to NN’s leadership team,” French adds.
Read the full announcement here.
York Space Systems Names Dev Rudra CSCO
DENVER — York Space Systems, a Denver-based aerospace company dedicated to the rapid deployment of complete space mission solutions, announced the C-level appointment of Dev Rudra as its new chief supply chain officer.
A global executive with a stellar track record, Rudra brings over 25 years of expertise, having held leadership roles of increasing scope and scale in aircraft engine maintenance supply chain and aerospace manufacturing businesses, including at GE Aviation and United Technologies.
The company stated that before joining York, Rudra served as a vice president at AE Industrial Partners, focusing on the scaling up of innovative aerospace companies using lean manufacturing practices. He also spent over six years as managing director at GE Aviation where he led a team of more than 2,000 people across three plants.
According to Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York, “Dev brings an unmatched depth of experience in aerospace manufacturing and supply chain management, which will play a critical role in our aggressive growth trajectory. York’s commitment goes beyond just manufacturing; it’s about continuing to scale our operations while bringing more resilience to our entire supply chain. This includes sourcing strategies that will continue to ensure spacecraft deliveries at the speed of customer needs,” said Wallinger.
“Focusing C-suite level attention on our entire supply chain security, from source material to launch ops, will ensure York continues to deliver secure systems in an increasingly dangerous world. With Dev at the helm of our supply chain operations, we are fortifying our original pledge to every customer: we deliver on-time excellence, meeting and exceeding the demands of both our government and commercial customers,” Wallinger adds.
Read the full announcement here.
Supply Management News
Redwood Materials Raises $1B to Expand Circular Battery Supply Chain in US
Africa Can Become New Global Supply Chain Force: UNCTAD
Tyson Forms New Supply Chain Center
