Welcome to Procurement News, part of our ongoing aggregate news series covering recent supply management headlines and trends pertinent to Chief Procurement Officers and other procurement leaders. Contact us with your news story here.
CPO News
Zevia Appoints Bill Williamson as Chief Supply Chain Officer
LOS ANGELES — Zevia PBC, a manufacturer of zero-calorie carbonated soft drinks, announced the appointment of Bill Williamson to the role of senior vice president, operations and chief supply chain officer.
The company stated that Williamson joined the Zevia management team from Monster Energy, where he served as senior vice president, operations and supply chain. He brings over 25 years of operations and supply chain experience in the beverage and consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) industries, with a proven track record of leading successful transformations and identifying and executing opportunities for improvement to drive revenue growth and increase profitability.
According to Amy Taylor, president and CEO, “We are thrilled to welcome Bill to the Zevia team to lead our supply chain transformation. He is a CPG veteran with a proven track record in beverage and decades of broad functional experience encompassing manufacturing, finance, distribution and retail,” Taylor said.
“Bill brings a deep understanding of high-growth beverage brands along with a strong strategic background, a hands-on approach and a passion for team building. He is uniquely qualified to drive immediate and sustainable improvements to our supply chain along with optimizing and scaling our network over the long-term to support future growth,” she added.
Most recently, Williamson was the senior vice president, operations at Monster Energy Company, with responsibility for operations and supply chain continuity across the Americas.
Read the full announcement here.
Jacobo Capuano Named CSCO for Second Nature Brands
DETROIT — Second Nature Brands, the US-based creator of premium, nutritional, and better-for-you snacks and treats, announced the appointment of Jacobo Capuano as its new chief supply chain officer, reporting to CEO Victor Mehren.
The company stated that Capuano has 30 years of experience across manufacturing and supply chain within several industries, including consumer packaged goods (CPG). He has extensive experience in leading teams to deliver strategic operational transformations to support fast-growing and acquisitive organizations, while also driving cultural alignment and positive team engagement.
Most recently, Capuano served as the chief operating officer at TruRoots Company, a private equity backed food and beverage company where he led the end-to-end supply chain. Prior to this he held US and international roles with a number of industry leaders including Procter & Gamble, Givaudan Flavours, Clorox, and The Live Kindly Company.
According to Victor Mehren, CEO of Second Nature Brands, “Jacobo is a highly regarded values-led leader with a great track record and experience, and we are delighted to welcome him to the team. His appointment significantly strengthens the Second Nature Brands leadership team in support of the ambitious plans we have to grow the business through more acquisitions, as well as strong organic growth and superior operational performance.”
Read the full announcement here.
Pete Kraemer CSCO Transitioning to Advisory Role at Anheuser-Busch InBev
BELGIUM — Anheuser-Busch InBev announced a series of management changes to its senior leadership, effective January 2024.
After more than 34 years with AB InBev, Pete Kraemer, a fifth generation Brewmaster and ABI’s chief supply chain officer, will be transitioning to become a brewing and beer quality advisor to chief executive Michel Doukeris. He will be succeeded as Chief Supply Chain Officer by Ricardo Moreira, currently CEO of AB InBev’s Africa Zone.
The company stated that Kraemer has had a series of various brewing and supply chain positions over the years, including Group Director of Brewing and Resident Brewmaster in St. Louis, and Vice President, Supply for the North America Zone, leading all brewery operations, quality assurance, raw materials, and product innovation responsibilities. He was appointed chief supply officer of AB InBev in 2016 and then chief supply chain officer with the procurement function integration as of 2021.
“Pete has ABI in his blood, and I would like to thank him for all of his contributions, leading by example with his passion for beer all of these years,” said Doukeris. “Pete will continue to serve as an advisor to me in this new chapter and I look forward to continue working with him in this capacity.”
Read the full announcement here.
Supply Management News
General Motors Experiencing Delays with EV Production
DETROIT — General Motors is experiencing delays in its electric vehicle (EV) production due to delivery issues with an automation equipment supplier.
During GM’s Q2 2023 earnings call, CEO Mary Barra said, “We have experienced unexpected delays in the ramp because our automation equipment supplier has been struggling with delivery issues that are constraining module assembly capacity. We are working on multiple fronts to put this behind us as quickly as possible and things are already improving,” she said.
Barra explained how the company has deployed teams from GM manufacturing engineering to work on site with its automation supplier to improve delivery times. It has also added manual module assembly lines and installed more module capacity at its North American EV plants.
“With both cell and vehicle production increasing, we continue to target production of roughly 100,000 EVs in the second half of the year and will continue to grow from there. Demand for our EVs remains very strong because the Ultium Platform is purpose-built for electric vehicles and it does not force customers to compromise on style, performance, utility, range, or towing,” Barra added.
ISM Reports Manufacturing Contraction for Ninth Consecutive Month
TEMPE, Arizona — The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) announced that its manufacturing PMI edged up to 46.4 last month from 46.0 in June, which was the lowest reading since May 2020.
It was the ninth straight month that the PMI stayed below the 50 threshold, which indicates contraction in manufacturing, the longest such stretch since the 2007-2009 Great Recession. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index would rise to 46.8.
Reuters reported that U.S. manufacturing appeared to stabilize at weaker levels in July amid a gradual improvement in new orders, but factory employment dropped to a three-year low, suggesting that layoffs were accelerating.
While the ISM survey continues to offer a grim assessment of manufacturing conditions, so-called hard data suggest the sector is shuffling along. Data from the Federal Reserve last month showed factory production rebounded in the second quarter, ending two straight quarterly declines, said Reuters.
According to Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, “Demand remains weak but marginally better compared to June, production slowed due to lack of work, and suppliers continue to have capacity. There are signs of more employment reduction actions in the near term to better match production output,” Fiore said.
“Ninety-two percent of manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in July, up from 71 percent in June. However, the share of manufacturing GDP registering a composite PMI® calculation at or below 45 percent — a good barometer of overall manufacturing weakness — was 25 percent in July, compared to 44 percent in June, a clear positive,” he added.
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