PROCUREMENT AS AN industry in the Middle East is growing at an exponential rate . Historically , as a function , procurement across the region has significantly lagged behind many of the leading industries across the world but , as Sam Achampong , Regional Head – Middle East and North Africa ( MENA ), The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply ( CIPS ) believes , the tide is beginning to turn . “ A larger number of experienced professionals are being put at the top of procurement functions to start filtering down and embedding best practice across all their staff and all their functions and the way they do things ,” he says . “ That ’ s what ’ s happening exponentially across the Middle East and if it continues to happen then I firmly believe that the region will become the centre of excellence for procurement .”
One such example of this is Das Holding . In 2014 , as part of the DAS Group of Companies , it embarked on a journey of centralising its procurement function and services within the Middle East . This journey was driven
by one clear vision – to become the leading UAE holding company and the preferred partner of choice for institutional investors , governments and multinational corporations .
Overseeing this journey is Christopher Bentley , Head of Procurement at Das Holding . “ I have a procurement mission ,” he says , “ to support Das Holding ’ business vision by delivering a preferred , dynamic and strategically aligned procurement service . One that will work closely with the company ’ s business units to
148 April 2018