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.
Procurement Executive News
Volvo Cars Promotes Francesca Gamboni to CSCO
GOTHNBURG, Sweden — Volvo Cars announced the addition of three leaders joining the company’s Executive Management Team following the departure of Javier Varela, chief operating officer and deputy CEO. Among the leaders is Francesca Gamboni, who has been promoted to chief supply chain officer.
The company stated that Gamboni joined Volvo Cars in 2023, bringing with her over 25 years of manufacturing, supply chain and procurement experience, mainly in the automotive sector including previous roles at Stellantis, Bosch and Renault-Nissan. She will oversee procurement, logistics, and manufacturing.
In a LinkedIn post, Gamboni stated, “I joined Volvo Cars less than a year ago with the ambition to create long-term resilience in the foundation of our complete supply chain. Today, it’s with great pride that I share the news that I’m taking on the role as Chief Supply Chain Officer at Volvo Cars and joining the Executive Management Team.
“Volvo Cars is moving at pace towards our electrification goals and profitable growth, as well as making strides in setting new standards for safety. I’m very excited to lead the supply chain function in this journey. Thank you very much @Jim Rowan for the trust. I’m looking forward to working even closer with you and the wider EMT.”
Read the full announcement here.
Michael Greto Takes the Reins as VP, Supply Chain for GCHI
HARLEYVILLE, S.C. — Giant Cement Holding, Inc. (GCHI) announced the appointment of Michael Greto as vice president of supply chain.
The company stated that Greto joined GCHI’s cement division in August 2008. Throughout his tenure at GCHI, Greto has been a force in the expansion and enhancement of logistical capabilities. He led the growth of the rail fleet, increasing the railcar capacity by almost 40% to about 550 railcars today. Significantly, Greto has spearheaded the startup of the maritime vessel unloader. Known as the “Dragon Lady,” this operation now seamlessly manages the unloading of nearly 300,000 tons of imported cement annually.
According to Tim Kuebler, president and CEO of GCHI, “As the company continues to expand its import operations, Mike’s leadership will ensure that GCHI is well-positioned to support our growing customer base,” he says .
“His proactive approach and strategic acumen are essential in navigating the complex challenges of global supply chains.”
Read the full announcement here.
SVP, CSCO Bob Stewart Retiring from McDonald’s After 30 Years, Cesar Piña Succeeding Him
CHICAGO — McDonald’s announced that Bob Stewart, senior vice president, chief supply chain officer, North America, will retire after 30 years of service with the company. Succeeding him is Cesar Piña, who currently serves as corporate vice president, global strategic sourcing for food, sitting on the Global Supply Chain Leadership Team.
The company stated that during his outstanding 30 years of service, Stewart has served as a remarkable leader and shining light to the organization. From his significant contributions of digitalizing McDonald’s supply chain to managing the most unprecedented supply chain challenges of its time, Stewart has shown unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standards of supply chain excellence.
On Piña’s promotion, Marion Gross, EVP, global chief supply chain officer, stated: “Cesar has made significant contributions across his 10-year McDonald’s career to drive meaningful change to our global supply chain and the System at large, and there is no doubt that he is the right leader to carry forward McDonald’s priorities,” she said.
“His extensive industry experience in driving business results matched with his strong learning aptitude and passion for advancing a culture of collaboration makes him uniquely suited to shepherd the North America Supply Chain team into the future.”
Read the full announcement here.
Barfresh Appoints Marko Matla VP of Supply Chain & Co-Manufacturing
LOS ANGELES — Barfresh Food Group Inc., a provider of frozen, ready-to-blend, and ready-to-drink beverages, announced the appointment of Marko Matla as vice president of supply chain and co-manufacturing.
In his role, Matla will oversee the supply chain operations, including spearheading the effort to bring on a new bottle co-manufacturer, collaborating with the company’s network of production partners, and assisting with the launch of new products to ensure product supply and uncompromised service to customers.
Riccardo Delle Coste, CEO for Barfresh, stated, “We are excited to welcome Marko Matla as our vice president of supply chain & co-manufacturing. Marko brings extensive experience across procurement, production, quality assurance, distribution, and logistics that will benefit our supply chain operations and support new product launches in the future. His leadership will be instrumental improving supply chain flexibility, scalability and service levels for our customers,” he said.
“Marko’s strong relationships with co-manufacturers, food service customers and distributors developed over many years will also prove valuable. He joins our organization at an opportune time, as we not only look to secure a new co-manufacturer partner but also continue to win and onboard significant school accounts. His expertise will be instrumental in ensuring a seamless integration of new accounts and maintaining a steady product flow, key factors in our pursuit to achieve record revenue for fiscal year 2024,” Delle Coste added.
Matla comes to Barfresh with over 25 years of comprehensive end-to-end supply chain expertise, having worked to scale and enhance supply chain operations for small- to large-sized consumer packaged goods companies.
Read the full announcement here.
Nordstrom Promotes Alexis DePree from EVP, CSCO to COO
SEATTLE — Nordstrom, Inc. promoted Alexis DePree as chief operating officer of the company. DePree previously served as the retailer’s executive vice president and chief supply chain officer since January 2020, before which she held senior leadership roles at Amazon and Target.
The company stated that DePree will continue to support supply chain operations, transportation, inventory operations, enterprise operations, and store operations, but now with an expanded title that better reflects the breadth of the work the teams are performing.
Nordstrom released a statement on its website: “With Alexis’s support, our teams have made meaningful progress in several different areas: we’ve strengthened our supply chain network, dramatically improved our speed to customer, and reduced costs,” Nordstrom wrote.
“We continue to make progress implementing RFID technology and creating operational consistency across our stores. As we focus on improving operational efficiency across the business, Alexis and her team will continue to be integral to our success.”
Read the full announcement here.
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