The CPO: Transforming Procurement in the Real World

The CPO: Transforming Procurement in the Real World

In the novel <em>The CPO: Transforming Procurement in the Real World</em>, we meet Thomas Sutter, a German-American living in Dusseldorf and working as a procurement manager for a major global automobile manufacturer, Autowerke. On a chance encounter while flying to Chicago, he meets the CEO of Heartland, a major food company in the U.S. Sutter impresses the CEO with his knowledge and, after a whirlwind courtship, he joins Heartland as its new Chief Procurement Officer, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. <p> <p> Hired to transform procurement at Heartland, Sutter has an enormous challenge: to bring its procurement practices into the 21st century and save the company $5 billion. Despite the knowledge and experience he gained at Autowerke, Sutter fights over the next 18 months to find his place at Heartland, institute world-class procurement models and methods, win over the procurement teams and senior executives, and meet his goal. At first, his reputation--and his marriage--suffer, along with the company's overall sales and revenue. Can he pull a rabbit out of the hat?<p> <p> <em>The CPO: Transforming Procurement</em> depicts the real-life challenges of transforming procurement, while demonstrating the benefits of innovative procurement and leadership methods. Written by global thought leaders in A.T. Kearney's procurement and supply management practice--consultants who have helped numerous companies chop billions of dollars in costs out of their procurement budgets--<em>The CPO</em> will prove invaluable for those in purchasing and procurement. It will also present essential information to those in the C suite looking for ways to boost profits and productivity. <em>The CPO:<p> </em> <ul> <li>Portrays best-in-class, real-life, actionable methods to turn procurement into a function that can save billions and improve the bottom line.  </li> <li>Provides a fun way to learn essential lessons in procurement and change management. </li> <li>Shows how rejecting victimhood in all its aspects leads to personal and business success. </li> <li>Presents lessons in novel format--like <em>The Goal</em>, <em>Who Moved My Cheese</em>, <em>The Five Dysfunctions of a Team</em>, and others--to engage you and show techniques in action.  </li> </ul>