My Professional Career

dormakaba

At dormakaba, I have been part of Indirect Procurement from the very beginning, responsible for building the Indirect Procurement team in Europe, both strategically and operationally. My tasks include establishing and documenting processes, as well as developing and enforcing the Procurement Policy. I continuously work on optimizing costs, reporting, and procurement processes. Additionally, I drive improvements in the P2P process by introducing AI-based eProcurement solutions. In my role as a leader, I am committed to fostering my team’s development through mentoring and coaching.

Main Responsibilities

At dormakaba, I built and managed a regional procurement team, overseeing both strategic and operational functions with 10+ direct reports. I established and standardized procurement strategies, led category management across multiple indirect categories, and ensured effective stakeholder and contract management. Additionally, I monitored market trends, ensured compliance, and led cross-functional projects to enhance procurement performance.

Strategic Procurement Team Lead Europe
06/2021 until Today

Pfizer

At Pfizer, I was part of Indirect Procurement from the very beginning, working alongside my then-manager to lay the foundation for Procurement Excellence. Over time, I progressed from a local strategic buyer to Team Lead and eventually to Head of Procurement. During this journey, I contributed to the development of the eProcurement system Ariba and fostered cross-country, internationally connected collaboration in strategic procurement.

Main Responsibilities

At Pfizer, I led the procurement team, focusing on continuous process optimization and standardizing working methods. I managed vendor relationships, risks, and stakeholder engagement, while overseeing category management and cross-functional projects. Additionally, I established strategic partnerships, negotiated contracts, and monitored procurement performance.

In three different positions: from Sourcing Manager to Head of Procurement
07/2004 to 05/2021

Zurich Insurance Company

After starting as a beginner in procurement at the largest insurance company in Switzerland, I gained valuable insights into how procurement functions, the challenges it presents, and how to effectively address them. I progressed from being an operational buyer to a strategic buyer in the category IT and telecom, My 6.5 years at this company have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the intricacies of procurement and have equipped me with the skills necessary to navigate its complexities.

Buyer IT & Telecom
12/1998 to 06/2004

Main Responsibilities

At Zurich Insurance, I was responsible for the operational purchasing of IT standard goods, negotiating and concluding contracts, and serving as the eProcurement contact person. I also documented and maintained IT procurement processes and managed supplier relationships

Education

I believe education is a lifelong process that extends beyond classrooms and into our daily lives. By staying open to conversations, experiences, and continuous learning, we grow into more informed individuals. Combining theoretical learning with practical application creates the most effective and integrative approach to growth.

Business & Technical Administration

Certification: Federal diploma in Business Administration and Applied Technical Management
School: AKAD, Zurich
Key Areas: Business administration, Finance, Logistics, IT

Certification: Business Diploma SGKB
School: MERWA, Aarau
Key Areas: Business Administration, Finance

Organizational Management

Certification: MCIPS Certification
School: Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply
Key Areas: Procurement & Supply Chain Management

Certification: Organizer with Federal diploma of higher vocational education
School: IFA Zurich
Key Areas: Project- und Process Management, Corporate Governance, Optimization of organization, Information Management, Logistics, Infrastructure & Technology, Lawt

Leadership

Certification: Cornerstones of Management
School: Pfizer Acadamy
Key Areas: Coaching & Deployment to achieve high-performance

Certification: Dipl. Personality- & Life Coach (ECA/ICI), Expert Level
School: Living Sense Zurich
Key Areas: Coaching, Personality development & psychology

Training Title: Leading for Success
School: Dormakaba Academy
Key Areas: Building and leading teams, Motivating employees, Setting priorities as a Leader, Managing success of the team

My Skills

From my point of view, skills are the practical abilities and expertise we develop through learning and experience, enabling us to effectively navigate and succeed in various aspects of life.

Procurement & Negotiation Expertise

• Supplier Management: Establishing and maintaining strategic supplier relationships, including tender processes and long-term partnerships.

• Cost Savings & Optimization: Leading international tenders, achieving significant cost savings (e.g., 40% in logistics tenders, €1M savings in Telecom 2014 project).

• Contract Negotiation: Successfully negotiating complex contracts for mobile, fixed communication, transportation, and print services across Europe.

• Category Management: Leading category management in diverse indirect procurement areas like services, logistics, and Mobile Communication.

Leadership & Management Skills

• Team Leadership: Building and managing regional procurement teams across Europe, with 10+ direct reports.

• Strategic Planning: Defining and executing procurement strategies, aligning with corporate goals.

• Mentoring & Development: Implementing a multi-mentor program to promote operational buyers to strategic roles.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Leading projects in collaboration with Supply Chain, Finance, and IT.

Technical Skills

• eProcurement Systems: Contributing to the development of eProcurement systems like Ariba, and implementing AI-based solutions to optimize processes.

• Data & KPI Management: Developing and implementing dashboards and KPIs to measure procurement performance globally.

• Process Optimization: Streamlining procurement processes, reducing manual steps, and improving efficiency (e.g., reducing FTE from 1 to 0.1 in fleet management).

• Digital Tools: Using tools like Transporeon for tender processes and SAP integration for centralized procurement systems.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Stakeholder Management: Managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Supply Chain, Finance, and IT, ensuring alignment across departments.

• Cross-Cultural Communication: Leading international projects across multiple countries and coordinating with global teams.

• Presentation & Reporting: Presenting complex procurement data and strategies to senior management and key stakeholders, using clear, actionable insights.

• Mentoring & Coaching: Coaching and developing team members to transition into strategic roles through structured learning programs.

• Languages: German & Italian native speaker and fluent in English (C1)