Christian Gerdes Email and Phone Number
I am an accomplished and results-driven global procurement executive with demonstrated success in developing and executing strategies that drive growth and profitability for leading global organizations across different industries. As a diverse, forward-thinking leader with more than 20 years of experience in procurement and supply chain, I excel in building and maintaining strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and suppliers; coaching, developing and leading high performing teams; and delivering transformational change in process, costs, quality and performance.During my career I gained extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in leading multiple billion-dollar categories from strategic planning through execution, in alignment with stakeholder needs, business vision, and predetermined schedules and budgets. Procurement teams and categories under my leadership have consistently delivered more than 4% in value creation annually.I can effectively communicate in English, German and French and my cultural background and diversity allows me to build strategic internal and external relationships and alliances. I communicate with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm with my team, business unit leaders and C-level executives to plan and execute global initiatives driving world-class performance and returns. I am passionate about sustainability, applied my deep knowledge of sustainable packaging to develop a roadmap for 50% plastics reduction by 2030; and partner with suppliers to maximize the reuse of finite resources across the supply chain. I am a distinguished facilitator of category strategy and negotiation training workshops around the world and an externally recognized speaker on procurement, packaging and sustainability topics. I recently received Kimberly-Clark's Crystal Tree Award as the highest internal recognition for leadership in sustainability to make our communities and workplaces better for future generations.To discuss business and networking opportunities, please feel free to contact me via this page or by email at christian_gerdes@yahoo.com.
Kimberly-Clark
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Director Global Procurement - Management And Professional ServicesKimberly-ClarkAtlanta, Ga, Us
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Director Global Procurement - Management & Professional ServicesKimberly-Clark Jul 2024 - PresentIrving, Tx, Us► I am leading a team of 8 senior procurement professionals developing and executing the global strategies across all areas of Management and Professional Services. In this role, I am responsible for $1.2B in annual Procurement spend across a diverse set of categories including Management Consulting, HR Services & Benefits, Contingent Labor, Legal Services, Travel, Security Services and Research & Development.
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Global Procurement Director - Adhesives & PackagingKimberly-Clark Nov 2022 - Jun 2024Irving, Tx, Us► I was selected by the Executive Leadership team to take on the Adhesives category in addition to my previous responsibility for Sustainable Packaging. With the extended scope, I am now responsible for the sourcing and category management of $1.4B in Global spend across Kimberly-Clark's Adhesives & Packaging portfolios.
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Director - Global Sustainable PackagingKimberly-Clark Jul 2019 - Nov 2022Irving, Tx, Us► I was responsible for the category management and sustainable sourcing of Kimberly-Clark's packaging portfolio globally. Applying my deep knowledge and understanding of all paper and resin based packaging formats, I developed and led winning strategies to generate best-in-class total cost of ownership solutions with maximum profitability. I am seen as a sustainability champion across Kimberly-Clark committed to make lives better for our customers and to drive solutions with the smallest environmental footprint.Value and impact delivery include:(a) developing vision and leading Global Plastics RFP with $50M value creation and no on-cost for sustainability across 34 countries and 50 mills in North America; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Latin America; and Asia,(b) devising the first-of-its kind Global Packaging Standard for Kimberly-Clark to ensure global compliance to all quality, regulatory, sustainability and product safety requirements. Led team in discussions with more than 80 suppliers to drive close to 90% spend compliance in the first year,(c) collaborating with all business units and brands in developing a roadmap to reduce Kimberly-Clark's plastics footprint by 50% through 2030 for billion-dollar brands such as Huggies, Scott, Kleenex, Cottonelle, and Kotex,(d) creating and integrating the first Global Sustainable Packaging team across functions with the vision and mission to substantially reduce Kimberly-Clark's overall environment impact,(e) partnering with suppliers to drive 20-30% recycled content in plastics packaging by 2025 to maximize the reuse of finite resources across the end-to-end supply chain.
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Global Category Director - Packaging ProcurementKimberly-Clark Apr 2015 - Jun 2019Irving, Tx, Us► I was promoted to Global Category Director for Packaging Procurement based on my demonstrated leadership, extensive knowledge and skills in indirect procurement, and extraordinary contributions in my former role.In this critical and highly visible role, I regularly presented strategies to senior leaders in the business, as well as C-level executives that met productivity, cash flow, supply, quality, innovation and supplier diversity targets for Kimberly-Clark's Global packaging spend of $1B across Corrugates, Cartons and Flexibles.Value and career highlights include:(a) evaluating supply chain operations, driving profitability and transforming packaging category from regionally to globally managed achieving more than 5% in annual value creation,(b) coaching, leading and influencing a team of 20 procurement professionals across all regions to maximize value delivery from a total cost of ownership perspective considering local and regional needs,(c) moving the packaging category from an index-based pricing mechanism to a game-changing and first-of-its kind cost model, resulting in over $40M of cost avoidance for the business,(d) initiating a packaging optimization strategy resulting in more than $20M of cost savings leveraging an innovative and creative approach to share packaging samples across regions,(e) attaining more than 20% improvement in On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) and Right-first-Time (RFT) deliveries for the category.
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Associate Director - Global It ProcurementKimberly-Clark Jul 2012 - Mar 2015Irving, Tx, Us► I was hired by Kimberly-Clark through an executive research firm to transform the Information Technology category with an annual spend of $220M across hardware, software and services. I partnered with the IT organization to drive scalability, efficiency, and business growth exceeding expectations by leading problem-solving initiatives and driving high-value decisions.Value and leadership contributions include:(a) centralizing the purchasing/procurement process with data-driven decisions, more than doubling annual value creation in the category from $16M in 2021 to $34M in 2014(b) managing a team of 10 procurement professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia and equipping the team with processes and tools to drive maximum performance,(c) negotiating 500 agreements for a Kimberly-Clark healthcare spinoff while securing advantageous terms and achieving $7M in cost savings,(d) earning a seat at the CIO leadership table as the business partner for Procurement for all onsite and virtual CIO leadership meetings.
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Principal Category Manager ItExelon Jul 2010 - Jun 2012Chicago, Il, Us► I was hired by Exelon, an American Fortune 100 energy company, to define and implement industry-best processes around tactical and strategic sourcing, as well as a category management approach for the company-wide IT spend. As part of my responsibilities, I developed and implemented a master category and sourcing strategy for a breakthrough Smart Grid utility initiative covering more than 1.7 million electric and gas meters in the Baltimore area and driving operational efficiencies of $1.5B through 2025.Leadership success and impact include:(a) leading RFP for Smart Energy Platform solution resulting in more than $1.2M in savings through application of a negotiation gold standard,(b) optimizing $40M of IT spend through tailored market analysis and best-practices benchmarking resulting in more than 20% cost reduction in IT consulting services,(c) applying negotiation, presentation and communication skills to lead negotiations for an enterprise software agreement with main ERP solution provider driving more than $1M in cost savings, (d) improving overall supplier performance wile reducing cost for all IT spend across the company. -
Senior Procurement ManagerIbm Jan 2008 - Jun 2010Armonk, New York, Ny, Us► I was promoted to the role of Senior Procurement Manager for IT Services and managed a team of 20 strategic sourcing professionals in North America and Bangalore, India. Responsible for directing the sourcing process for more than $800M of annual spend and achieving $60M+ in annual savings. Key highlights included designing a new vendor management and sourcing process, as well as successfully leading the team through a corporate audit with no procurement-related findings and datasheets. -
Subcontract Services Sourcing ManagerIbm Oct 2006 - Dec 2007Armonk, New York, Ny, Us► In this role, I led a team of 15 procurement professionals for the sourcing of business and subcontract services at IBM's headquarters in Armonk, NY. I drove operational excellence by transitioning tactical sourcing responsibilities from North America to the Procurement Center in Bangalore, India. I exceeded the 5% annual cost savings target by proactively managing $500M of spend.
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Senior Procurement ProfessionalIbm Jan 2002 - Sep 2006Armonk, New York, Ny, Us► I was offered a promotional opportunity in North America to lead the selection and contracting of strategic suppliers in the HR services and business insurance area. I worked will all levels of client stakeholders, including C-level executives (Office of CHRO and Treasury) to implement global risk mitigation programs. In this role, I directly managed a global spend of $300M annually covering agreements with major Global insurance providers and brokers.
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Emea Procurement Lead - Facility ServicesIbm Jun 2001 - Dec 2001Armonk, New York, Ny, Us► I developed and led the creation of sourcing strategies for Facility Management and Operations Services in Europe with a spend of $130M. As part of my responsibility, I reduced the non-strategic and regional supplier base by 50% in the Central Region improving financial visibility and eliminating waste.
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Supply Chain Leadership ProgramIbm Jun 1999 - May 2001Armonk, New York, Ny, Us► I was recruited as one of twelve top-performing MBAs into IBM's prestigious Supply Chain Leadership Program and was provided an accelerated path to general management positions. Through four rotations across different geographies and functions I developed a deep understanding of the IBM business and leadership essentials.
Christian Gerdes Education Details
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Marist CollegeBusiness Administration -
Paderborn UniversityMechanical Engineering
Frequently Asked Questions about Christian Gerdes
What company does Christian Gerdes work for?
Christian Gerdes works for Kimberly-Clark
What is Christian Gerdes's role at the current company?
Christian Gerdes's current role is Director Global Procurement - Management and Professional Services.
What schools did Christian Gerdes attend?
Christian Gerdes attended Marist College, Paderborn University.
Who are Christian Gerdes's colleagues?
Christian Gerdes's colleagues are Brent Davids, John Paul, Rudi Ajj, Leslee Lewis, Julio César Pérez García, Denison Maciel, Krzysztof Najder.
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