Kurt Van Cleemput
Head Of Procurement, Brussels, Belgium
Professional Overview
Kurt Van Cleemput is an accomplished procurement executive with over 25 years of experience leading global procurement operations. As the Head of Procurement at bpost, he is responsible for overseeing the company's strategic sourcing, supplier management, and cost optimization initiatives across multiple markets. With a focus on driving efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, he leverages his extensive expertise in indirect and technical procurement to ensure bpost's supply chain is optimized to meet the evolving needs of the business.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As Head of Procurement at bpost since 2018, Kurt is responsible for developing and implementing the company's procurement strategy to support its growth and operational objectives. He leads a team of procurement professionals in Belgium and oversees the management of a diverse supplier portfolio, encompassing goods and services critical to bpost's logistics and distribution operations. Under his leadership, the procurement function has achieved significant cost savings, improved supplier performance, and enhanced the organization's sustainability efforts.
Career Progression
Prior to joining bpost, Kurt held several senior procurement roles at leading multinational organizations. As the Director of Procurement at ZNA, he spearheaded the centralization and optimization of the company's procurement processes, resulting in substantial cost reductions and improved operational efficiency. As the Global Indirect Procurement Manager and the European Indirect Procurement Manager at Mars, he was instrumental in streamlining the company's indirect spend and developing strategic supplier partnerships. Earlier in his career, he served as the Regional Head of the Technical and Engineering Department at Mars, where he gained valuable experience in operations and project management.
Academic Background
Kurt holds a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Ghent, where he specialized in supply chain management and logistics. He has also completed various executive training programs in strategic sourcing, negotiation, and supply chain optimization.
Areas of Expertise
- Strategic procurement and sourcing
- Supplier relationship management
- Cost optimization and savings initiatives
- Logistics and distribution operations
- Sustainability and environmental compliance
- Cross-functional collaboration and change management
Professional Impact
Under Kurt's leadership, the procurement function at bpost has achieved significant cost savings of over 8% across the organization's indirect spend categories. He has also spearheaded the implementation of a comprehensive supplier diversity program, resulting in a 15% increase in the representation of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the company's supply chain. Additionally, Kurt has played a key role in advancing bpost's sustainability efforts, leading the integration of environmental and social criteria into the company's supplier selection and evaluation processes.
Conclusion
With his extensive experience, strategic mindset, and commitment to innovation, Kurt Van Cleemput is a proven leader in the procurement field. In his current role at bpost, he continues to drive operational excellence, foster strategic partnerships, and contribute to the company's overall success and growth.
