SMBC GROUP
across the region to a strategic value-driven procurement model, leveraging digital transformation while providing improved governance and oversight, and hiring professional procurement experts to guide and influence business purchasing decisions.
“ In building out the centralised procurement organisation, I first focused on establishing a team to support day-to-day procurement operations, contract management, and invoice processing, aligning closely with our implementation of Coupa,” says Wadsworth.“ More recently, I’ ve established our strategic sourcing function staffed with senior-level category leads across our largest spend categories, such as professional services, IT, corporate services, real estate, HR services, travel, and marketing.”
“ As Peter Drucker, a leading management consultant and renowned author once said,‘ you can’ t manage what you can’ t measure’”
FRANK WADSWORTH MANAGING DIRECTOR AND
CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, SMBC AMERICAS DIVISION
SMBC’ s category leads have several key priorities on the horizon this year, according to Wadsworth:“ First and foremost is to assess the supplier footprint and historical spend for their respective categories, establishing savings targets together with an action plan to realise those savings.” www. smfg. co. jp 17