10 Attributes of Successful Chief Procurement Officers


Nov 15, 2022 | Best practices



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Stawan

Nov 15, 20222 min read


CPOs struggle to realize value from procurement despite its role as a key cost-saving driver. 50+ leading product manufacturing companies reported these challenges, emphasizing the need for strong leadership, strategic thinking, analytical, negotiation, communication, project management, procurement policies, industry trend awareness, legal compliance, and financial skills in CPOs.


A Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) is a senior executive responsible for leading the procurement function within an organization. CPOs are responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies, managing the procurement process, and leading a team of procurement professionals. The following are some of the best attributes of successful CPOs: 

  • Strong leadership skills: CPOs need to be able to lead and motivate a team of procurement professionals. This includes being able to set clear goals and expectations, provide guidance and direction, and hold team members accountable for their performance. 
  • Strong strategic thinking skills: CPOs need to be able to think strategically and develop and implement procurement strategies that align with the organization's overall goals and objectives. This includes being able to identify and capitalize on opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and risk management. 
  • Strong analytical skills: CPOs need to be able to analyze data and make informed decisions. This includes being able to review financial reports, evaluate supplier performance, and identify areas for improvement. 
  • Strong negotiation skills: CPOs need to be able to negotiate with suppliers and vendors to achieve the best possible prices, terms, and delivery schedules. This includes being able to develop and implement negotiation strategies that take into account the organization's objectives and the supplier's capabilities. 
  • Strong communication skills: CPOs need to be able to effectively communicate with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and vendors. This includes being able to articulate procurement strategies, negotiate prices and terms, and resolve disputes. 
  • Strong project management skills: CPOs need to be able to manage complex procurement projects, including developing project plans, managing budgets, and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget. 
  • Strong understanding of procurement policies and procedures: CPOs need to be familiar with the organization's procurement policies and procedures and be able to comply with them. This includes being able to develop and implement policies and procedures that are aligned with the organization's overall goals and objectives. 
  • Strong understanding of industry trends: CPOs need to be aware of industry trends, including new products and services, to ensure they are sourcing the best possible goods and services. This includes staying current with new technologies, market changes and the latest developments in procurement. 
  • Strong understanding of laws and regulations: CPOs need to be familiar with laws and regulations related to procurement and be able to comply with them. This includes being able to identify and mitigate risks, and troubleshoot problems with suppliers and vendors.
  • Strong financial acumen: CPOs need to have a strong understanding of financial concepts, including budgeting and forecasting, cost analysis and financial modeling, and be able to develop and manage procurement budgets. 

50+ CPOs of leading product manufacturing companies asserted that they struggle to derive value from procurement, despite it being a significant driver of cost reduction. With FactWise, leaders can see a 25% cost reduction in direct spend and 31% increase in oversight and efficiency. Leaders can customize analytics and reports as required, track supplier performance using key metrics, improve efficiency within their teams, and enable their procurement organization to drive overall business impact.  

FactWise is an end-to-end Source-to-Pay platform for global product manufacturing companies. Our mission is to build truly distinctive procurement solutions that delight users and provide sustainable positive impact to the organizations we serve. 


About the Author

Stawan is the founder and CEO of FactWise. Before founding FactWise, Stawan was the NA TMT-Procurement Leader at McKinsey. Passionate about procurement, Stawan has 15 years’ experience in enabling clients of all sizes to achieve business impact via procurement.


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