The Supplier Management Summit 2024

The Supplier Management Summits 2024 brought together procurement professionals from around the world to explore the latest trends and best practices in supplier management.
 
This year’s theme, "Return on Relationships" (RoR), focuses on moving beyond traditional cost-based metrics to encompass the full spectrum of value that strong supplier partnerships can offer. From risk mitigation and supply chain resilience to driving innovation and sustainability, RoR represents a comprehensive approach to supplier management.
 
In London, Chicago and Melbourne we unveiled the latest findings from our 16th annual research, conducted with over 300 organisations worldwide. Discover how to harness the power of strategic supplier relationships to achieve not just financial returns, but also long-term business value.
 
The 2024 summits were sponsored by Zip.

Melbourne, Australia

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Chicago, USA

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London, United Kingdom

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2024 Summits - Agenda Banner London 2

Agenda for the Summit in London, United Kingdom

8:30am – Registration
9:00am - Welcome and introduction
Speaker: Ben Earnshaw and Caroline Alonso
9:10am - The 2024 Global SRM Research findings, focusing on the Return on Relationships
Speaker: Alan Day, Chairman and Founder - State of Flux  
09:50am - Return on Relationships 
Speaker: Rory Lamont – Siemens
10:10am – Accelerating Return on Relationships
Speakers: Pascal d'Arc - Zip, Alan Day – State of Flux
10:30am - Break with refreshments
11:10am – From World Champion to Global Brand: Applying an Athletic Mindset for Business Success
Speaker: Jamie Hunt – Pressio
11:30am – Interview with Paul Gardner, CPO at Mars Pet Nutrition about how he works with suppliers 
Paul Gardner – Mars Pet Nutrition
11:40am - Panel discussion
Panellists: Lyndsey Berry - Savills, Rory Lamont - Siemens, Jonathan D’Orgee - Microsoft, Alan Day - State of Flux 
Facilitator: John Newton
12:00pm - Q&A from audience
12:20pm – Closing remarks
12:30pm – Network

Speakers in London, United Kingdom

2024 Summits - Paul Gardener UK V2
Chief Procurement Officer at Mars Pet Nutrition Logo
 
Paul joined Mars in 2019 to lead the procurement for the Pet Nutrition Europe business, before then taking the role Of CPO Pet Nutrition in July 2021. With the purchasing leadership team, they have built the direction for the function, re-enforcing the core capabilities, building global category strategies to address the changing supply landscape and resiliency issues, and of course, making tangible steps to make an impact across the various realms of sustainability.

Prior to joining Mars, Paul spent 20 years with Danone, in a variety of purchasing roles, where he led a number of projects across Milk, Vanilla, corn & various fruits, through collaborations with Mars (Livelihood fund for Family farming) and through the SAI platform (of which he was treasurer for 2 years).
2024 Summits - Rory Lamont
Chief Procurement Officer at
 
Rory has spent his career navigating complex challenges in global supply chain management, leading strategic initiatives to optimise procurement and operational efficiencies. With a background rooted in both corporate and entrepreneurial endeavours, Rory has developed a unique perspective on balancing innovation with practical solutions. He has a proven track record of transforming supply chain processes for leading organisations, ensuring they remain competitive in an ever-evolving market. Rory's insights are invaluable for businesses looking to adapt to the rapidly changing supply chain landscape.
2024 Summits - Jamie Hunt UK
Founder and Executive Director at
 
Jamie is a seasoned supply chain and operations executive with a deep passion for sustainability and innovation. Over his career, Jamie has held pivotal roles in global organisations, where he has been instrumental in implementing forward-thinking strategies that balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. With a focus on transforming supply chains to meet modern challenges, Jamie's leadership has led to significant advancements in areas like sourcing, logistics, and circular economy initiatives. He brings a wealth of knowledge to discussions on the future of sustainable supply chains.
2024 Summits - Pascal dArc UK
Head of Enterprise Strategy at Zip Logo
 
Pascal d'Arc is a strategic enterprise go-to-market leader based in London, UK, with over 20 years of experience in procurement and supply chain. As one of the first employees at State of Flux, Pascal was part of the founding team and contributed to its early development. He has also held leadership positions at IBM and SAP, leading transformation projects for multinational organisations.
2024 Summits - Lyndsey Berry UK
Associate Director at
 
Lyndsey is a dynamic leader in procurement and supply chain with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Her expertise lies in driving large-scale transformations that address modern supply chain challenges, particularly in sustainability and digital integration. Lyndsey has been pivotal in developing global strategies for enhancing supply chain resiliency and efficiency, working with teams across multiple sectors. Her leadership and forward-thinking approach make her a sought-after voice on the future of procurement.
2024 Summits - Jonathan dÓrgee UK V2
Throughout his career, Jonathan has navigated complex operational challenges, earning recognition for his innovative problem-solving abilities and commitment to operational excellence. His focus on outcome and benefits management ensures that he delivers sustainable improvements across all levels of the organisation.
2024 Summits - Agenda Banner Chicago 2

Agenda for the Summit in Chicago, United States of America

8:30am – Registration 
9:00am - Welcome and introduction 
9:10am - Delivering sustainability depends on strategic alliances with customers and suppliers 
Speaker: Vincent Godfrey, CPO - Ardagh Group 
9:30am - 2024 Global SRM Research results focusing on Return on Relationships 
Speaker: Alan Day, Chairman and Founder - State of Flux 
10:00am – Interactive Discussions with Alan Day 
10:20am - Break with refreshments 
10:50am – Interview with Paul Gardner, CPO at Mars Pet Nutrition about how he works with suppliers
Speaker: Paul Gardner, CPO at Mars Pet Nutrition
11:10am – Internal Return: How orchestration aligns internal stakeholders with suppliers   
Speaker: Nick Heinzmann, Head of Research at Zip HQ 
11:25am - Panel discussion 
Panellists: Vincent Godfrey (Ardagh Group), John Japuntich (Starbucks), Alan Day (State of Flux) 
Facilitator: Christine Scoolis 
11:45am - Q&A from audience 
12:00pm – Network and Lunch 
01:00pm - End 

Speakers in Chicago, United States

2024 Summits - Vincent Godfrey NA
Chief Procurement Officer at Ardagh Group Logo
 
Vincent has almost 35-years experience of high risk, high value, and complex procurement and transformation across different sectors and industries having spent 14-years in the rail industry, 12-years in the UK central government, and 6-years working for the UK’s largest local authority, latterly as the Group Chief Executive Officer for their trading organizations with 1,800 people covering an extensive and diverse portfolio internationally.  He has worked for Ardagh Group for 2-years, responsible globally for a multi-billion dollar portfolio.  He is a Fellow (Chartered) of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and has an MBA in Strategy and Procurement from the University of Birmingham.
2024 Summits - Nick Heinzmann - NA
Head of Research at Zip Logo
 
As Head of Research, Nick works with customers and industry influencers to power Zip’s thought leadership, product and competitive strategies. His research interests include user experience in enterprise software, especially for procurement. Prior to his role at Zip, Nick served as VP of Research at Spend Matters, where he ran new research initiatives and built the firm’s analyst training program.
2024 Summits - Paul Gardener UK V2
Chief Procurement Officer at Mars Pet Nutrition Logo
 
Paul joined Mars in 2019 to lead the procurement for the Pet Nutrition Europe business, before then taking the role Of CPO Pet Nutrition in July 2021. With the purchasing leadership team, they have built the direction for the function, re-enforcing the core capabilities, building global category strategies to address the changing supply landscape and resiliency issues, and of course, making tangible steps to make an impact across the various realms of sustainability.

Prior to joining Mars, Paul spent 20 years with Danone, in a variety of purchasing roles, where he led a number of projects across Milk, Vanilla, corn & various fruits, through collaborations with Mars (Livelihood fund for Family farming) and through the SAI platform (of which he was treasurer for 2 years).
2024 Summits - Agenda Banner Melbourne 2

Agenda for the Summit in Melbourne, Australia

8:30am - Registration
9:00am - Welcome and introduction
9:10am - Keynote: Return on Partnerships 
Speaker: Nika Watters – Telstra 
9:30am - 2024 Global SRM Research: Discover the latest key market trends and insights from our 2024 Research, focusing on the Return on Relationships
Speaker: Alan Day, Chairman and Founder - State of Flux
10:00am – Interactive discussions about the research findings
10:20am - Break with refreshments
10:50am – Keynote: Internal Return: How Orchestration Aligns Internal Stakeholders with Suppliers
Speaker: Joe Bellofiore – ZipHQ 
11:10am - Panel discussion
Panellists: Alan Day - State of Flux, Nika Watters - Telstra, Alan Wilkerson - Metrotrains,  
Facilitator: Frank Lai - State of Flux
11:30am -Q&A from audience
12:00pm – Networking

Speakers in Melbourne, Australia

2024 Summits - Alan Wilkerson AU
Head of Supplier Commercial Management at Metro Logo
 
Alan is a seasoned procurement professional with 20 years of diverse experience across the government, banking, and transport sectors. He previously served as the Head of Procurement at Cleanaway and is currently the Head of Supplier Commercial Management at Metro Trains Melbourne. In his current role, Alan has successfully developed and embedded the contract management function, focusing on delivering additional value and fostering strong supplier relations across the organisation. 
2024 Summits - Joe Bellofiore AU
Founding Go-To-Market, APAC at Zip Logo
 
Joe is a seasoned expert in procurement and finance technology, currently serving as a leader at Zip AU. With over 20 years of experience in scaling tech solutions for businesses, Joe has played a pivotal role in helping organisations navigate digital transformation and optimise their procurement operations. His career spans various leadership roles, where he has worked on cutting-edge solutions in fintech and procurement, always focused on driving efficiency and delivering measurable business value. At Zip, Joe is responsible for leading initiatives that transform procurement processes through the integration of advanced technologies like AI and automation.
Nika Watters - Enterprise Executive at Telstra
Executive for Technology Services Partner and Commercial Management at
 
Nika is a skilled and adaptable Global Leader with extensive experience in navigating complex transformational and operational environments. Nika's dedication to fostering strong collaborative relationships, driving change, and enhancing both customer and internal team experiences reflects her commitment to continuous improvement and engagement. In her current role as Telstra Enterprise Executive, she brings over a decade of experience at Telstra, where she has played instrumental roles in various strategic and executive positions, showcasing her exceptional leadership and strategic prowess.