EXECUTIVE INSIGHT
MATHIAS GRÜNEWALD
Mathias Grünewald studied economics before embarking on his three decade procurement journey .
Starting immediately after studies , he witnessed procurement functions in many industries change from a tactical to a strategic role as he was working in the automotive industry .
He joined Merck , the pharmaceutical manufacturing company in 1993 to take up a Team Leader role in the indirect spend area , where over time he became responsible for most of the indirect sourcing categories .
Later , he moved to direct material sourcing , before becoming the CPO for the electronic division in Merck KGaA Darmstadt . In this role he took responsibility for the global strategic and sourcing and was a member of the Global Procurement Board with the focus on developing overall Procurement .
His focus was always value and business driven , he is a strong believer in having a sourcing community that understands the business needs and supports sourcing with an eye on the future . Procurement is a key function and contributes significantly to the overall business success .
We engage with stakeholders , and aim to shape sustainability standards and approaches together with peers and industry associations such as TfS-Together for Sustainability for future readiness , fostering a culture of collaboration .
We partner with suppliers to find sustainable solutions , prioritise sustainable sourcing , and strive to minimise our environmental impact .
Q . HOW DO YOU BALANCE PROCUREMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS ?
» Sustainability is now a common topic of conversation in our relationship with key suppliers , alongside the classical procurement subjects .
This is a two-way conversation and there is benefit on both sides . We have
22 September 2024