Nikolaus Kirner - Chief Procurement Officer
Professional Overview
Nikolaus Kirner is an accomplished procurement executive with over 20 years of experience driving strategic sourcing and supply chain optimization initiatives within the travel and transportation industries. As the Chief Procurement Officer at SAP, he is responsible for developing and implementing global procurement strategies that leverage the company's scale and buying power to drive cost savings, improve supplier relationships, and enhance operational efficiency.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Chief Procurement Officer at SAP since 2020, Nikolaus is a member of the company's senior leadership team, overseeing a global procurement organization that manages an annual spend of over €20 billion. In this role, he has spearheaded the digitalization of procurement processes, leveraging advanced analytics and automation to enhance visibility, decision-making, and cost control. Under his leadership, SAP's procurement function has achieved significant cost savings and improved supplier collaboration, contributing to the company's overall profitability and competitiveness.
Career Progression
Prior to joining SAP, Nikolaus held senior procurement and transformation roles at Thomas Cook Group, where he served as the Group Chief Procurement Officer and a member of the Group Management Council. In this capacity, he led the implementation of group-wide procurement strategies that resulted in over €100 million in cost savings and enhanced supplier partnerships. Nikolaus also has experience in the aviation industry, having worked as a Strategic Sourcing Consultant at Deutsche Lufthansa and a Member of the Supervisory Board at Condor Flugdienst GmbH.
Academic Background
Nikolaus holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Mannheim, where he specialized in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. He has also completed executive education programs at renowned institutions, further enhancing his expertise in strategic procurement, leadership, and digital transformation.
Areas of Expertise
- Strategic procurement and supply chain optimization
- Category management and strategic sourcing
- Supplier relationship management and collaboration
- Procurement transformation and digitalization
- Cost reduction and operational efficiency
- Cross-functional leadership and change management
Professional Impact
Throughout his career, Nikolaus has demonstrated a track record of driving measurable improvements in procurement performance and contributing to the overall success of the organizations he has served. His ability to align procurement strategies with business objectives, leverage data and analytics, and foster strong supplier relationships has earned him a reputation as a trusted and respected procurement leader in the travel and transportation sectors.
Conclusion
With his extensive experience, deep industry knowledge, and proven ability to drive strategic procurement initiatives, Nikolaus Kirner is well-positioned to continue making a significant impact as the Chief Procurement Officer at SAP. His commitment to innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence has positioned him as a valuable asset to the companies he serves and a respected voice in the procurement community.
