The CPO is Dead

The CPO is Dead

Our job is no longer just sourcing, buying, and managing the supply chain - it is much more. Our leaders are involved is every facet of the business and their job is clear. It is to create value. By definition the title of Chief Procurement Officer is no longer accurate or reflective of the job's responsibilities. The title doesn’t even sound strategic. So I say kill it and demand the correct and more strategic title: Chief Value Officer.

The concept of CVO is nothing new. It has been suggested as a title for a senior level officer position for a number of years. I researched the title on Linked-In and found that there were actually quite a few people with that title across a number of industries and functions. Wikipedia’s definition “business value: is an informal term that includes all forms of value that determine the health and well-being of the firm in the long run.”

The most appropriate use of the title, Chief Value Officer, should be reserved for that senior individual that ultimately affects the creation of the most forms of value and whose responsibility it is to drive significant measurable contribution in each of those areas for their organization. So, I ask where are those areas most organizations measure their value - internally and well as externally?

Cost savings? Yes, but not enough. Revenue, Profitability, Customer Satisfaction, Competitive Advantage, Market Share, Social Responsibility, Diversity, Supplier Relationships, Employee Satisfaction? Yes – to all! What other discipline in a corporate organization touches and directly has the ability to create value in all of these areas. The answer is none.

So why don’t our leaders have this title now? If we haven’t sold our business case for our strategic value contribution then shame on us. If we have successfully made the case and have achieved strategic recognition then, ask for the strategic title- demand it. Chief Value Officer

Jean-Philippe Lecocq

Clinical Sourcing Manager at Argenx

4y

not to mention: process optimization

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Darryl Goldman

Director | Healthcare Consultant + Advisory Services | Business Development Leadership Coach + Mentor I Hospitals + Health Insurance Engagement + Strategic Relationship Management

6y

Possibly closer to the truth than many would be happy to admit to!

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David Lamoureux

l Fintech Leader I CFO l Private Equity I Board Member

6y

The title is meaningless. I think most executives view their primary mission to add value to their own organization. Could the CTO, CFO, COO, CMO etc not say the same thing. I appreciate that you probably were given a mandate to post something on linkedin and the changing mandate of the CPO is interesting. However, this misses the mark by concentrating on the title.

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Officer klingt nach Verwalter. Dies sollte der oberste Einkaeufer nicht sein.

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