Every year, Proxima engages with some of our profession’s very best Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) to gather insights on the upcoming year’s priorities and challenges. This year’s report features perspectives from CPOs across various industries, highlighting the multifaceted impact of procurement.
Consider the procurement landscape in 2025: geopolitical events are causing a surge in companies diversifying their sourcing strategies, incoming regulations and the nearing of 2030 are keeping sustainability high on the agenda, and more organizations are embarking on their digital transformation. There are many moving parts, but the one constant focuses on cost.
In this year’s report, many of our CPOs highlighted their prioritization of cost in the year ahead, doubling down on what is arguably procurement’s core purpose. Yet, the conversation around cost was not in isolation from the topics highlighted above. On the contrary, our CPOs emphasized the link between optimizing costs and creating value, underscoring procurement’s alignment with business priorities.
Reflecting on the insights provided by this year’s CPO cohort, three key takeaways stand out:
Practicality meets action
Lauren Feery, CPO at DS Smith, best emphasized the need to focus on what’s practical rather than what’s possible. Whether it’s technology and the role of AI or progressing decarbonization, procurement leaders are making decisions that move the dial and drive efficiencies.
It’s a people business
Building on the theme of AI, CPOs highlight the importance of good people. The consensus is that procurement is a people-led, tech-enabled function. While AI and automation are evolving, the human element remains crucial for engagement, change management, and relationship building. As Ed George, Managing Supply Chain Director at Toro points out, technology will become a given, but people will always hold the edge.
Finding harmony in cost and value
As alluded to earlier, cost remains a focus, but it’s about optimizing costs to deliver value. Procurement’s role as the commercial custodian of the business involves aligning suppliers to business goals and achieving the right commercial outcomes. Many of our CPOs highlighted what this means to their organizations, in what accompanies cost in the top spot.
We hope you find the insights from this year’s CPOs valuable and take away key learnings to prepare your teams for the year ahead.
Read our 2025 CPO Report
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