Christof Verboven
Industry: IT & Telecommunications
Category: Components & Parts
Work Experience
Council Leader Installation Material
Alcatel-Lucent
November 2012 - Present (12 years)
In this role, I'm leading the procurement team who is in charge of the Installation material sourcing to support Product divisions and region deployments.
My main responsibilities are :
- Manage the 13 team members located across the APAC, EMEA & NAR regions
- Build an effective network with the key stake holders. (project procurement, pre-sales, global customer delivery, PLM, Supply chain)
- Achieve the corporate objectives in terms of savings, suppliers rationalization and supplier strategy implementation across the regions.
- Adapt permanently the organization, the processes and the tools to the environment and scope evolution.
Global Commodity Manager ODM/OEM & Resale
Alcatel-Lucent
August 2008 - November 2012 (4 years, 3 months)
Within the global OEM/Project sourcing council, I’m responsible for a set of Telecom Consumer Products (DSL and fibre modems) for which was decided not to develop part of these products in-house anymore.
My responsibilities did include:
- Cooperate extensively with the internal customers to create a portfolio of 3rd Party products which are competitive and which meet the company standards of Alcatel-Lucent.
- Develop and manage a supplier base , mainly situated in China and Taiwan based on market knowledge, risk assessments and business needs.
- Look for innovative solutions (e.g. search for new technologies, implement new cooperation models) in order to contribute to the competitiveness of Alcatel-Lucent for the given products.
Procurement and e-Commerce Manager Touchatag Venture.
Alcatel-Lucent
February 2008 - August 2008 (6 months)
Touchatag was founded in 2008 as part of Alcatel-Lucent Ventures to commercialize contactless services.
After the launch, I joined the founders of Touchatag and took up the responsibility to set up the procurement and e-commerce activities during the start-up phase.
These activities did include :
- Set up the necessary e-commerce channels with order fulfillment partners.
- Select and contract suppliers for RFID equipment.
Global Commodity Manager - Electronic components
Alcatel-Lucent
January 2003 - February 2008 (5 years, 1 month)
The Global Product Sourcing council has the responsibility to purchase the materials which are necessary for the production of Alcatel-Lucent’s own developed products. I was responsible for the commodity of Standard Electronic Components. Next to that, I took a coaching role for 4 local commodity managers who were located in the Antwerp office.
Details of the main responsibilities of both functions:
- Define the corporate commodity & supplier strategy and make sure it’s implemented by the different local R&D teams.
- Look for alternative and second sources to reduce cost and limit risks.
- Coordinate and lead the worldwide commercial and contractual negotiations.
- Manage escalations (commercial, technical and quality issues) raised by the different local teams.
- Coach people in a way they increase their self responsibility, stay motivated and achieve their goals.
Purchasing Officer for Electronic components
Alcatel
September 2000 - January 2003 (2 years, 4 months)
As local Purchasing Officer, I was responsible for a set of components which were used in the Alcatel-Lucent production facilities in Geel and Hoboken :
- Local implementation of the corporate commodity and supplier strategy and initiate cost improvements based on the local situation.
- Secure adequate supply of goods in cooperation with the responsible Buyer.
- Manage local component and quality issues.
- Make the local activities visible to the Global Commodity Manager
Buyer MRO material
Monsanto
December 1996 - September 2000 (3 years, 9 months)
The Buyer of MRO goods is responsible for all procurement related activities of MRO goods, which represents all non-production related items (e.g. spare parts, safety equipment).
These responsibilities did include :
- vendor selection & contract negotiation
- order processing and follow-up
- managing urgent need for ‘out of stock’ spare parts
- optimization of the purchasing processes after implementation of SAP.
Education
Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen
Master
1990 - 1996
ARIBA, Paris
DIEU - The Danish Leadership Institute
PMMS Consulting Group, Lytham UK