Keesara Sunil Kumar

Background

About Keesara Sunil Kumar

I am Sunil Kumar Keesara, a strategic procurement and supply chain professional with over 20 years of experience in global roles. My journey has been shaped by a relentless pursuit of operational excellence, innovation, and value creation across complex global supply and service networks. I began my career with a strong foundation in engineering fundamentals, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Printing Engineering from Jadavpur University. Furthering my qualifications with a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration with a specialization in Operations Management from the Symbiosis Centre, I developed a strong business acumen and systems-thinking approach, essential for driving procurement transformation in large, matrixed organizations. My work also extended to trade marketing initiatives and custom procurement projects across Asia. I learned the nuances of cross-cultural supplier engagement and became adept at managing diverse stakeholder expectations across regions. The ability to bridge the gap between regional sourcing strategies and global category objectives became a core strength. In 2020, I assumed a global leadership role as Head of APAC Demand Management and Process Optimization at Elsevier B.V, headquartered in Amsterdam. This transition marked a strategic evolution in my career, from regional operations to global category management. I embraced this challenge by implementing supplier scorecards focused on ESG criteria, re-evaluating material sourcing strategies, and promoting circular economy principles within packaging procurement. extensive knowledge of global procurement processes and systems (Source-to-Pay). Skilled in process analysis, functional design, and system implementation, particularly in Ariba Source-to Contract, Supplier Management, and Risk modules. Proven track record in leading S2P initiatives, drivingcontinuous improvement,and aligning solutions across procurement and IT stakeholders. Digital Procurement: The Game Changer My core belief is that procurement and supply chain functions must lead digital transformation in the manufacturing industry—not follow it. Beyond tool adoption, I advocate for data-driven procurement decision-making. Cross-Functional Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement Procurement does not operate in a silo. In today’s manufacturing landscape, supply chain risk and sustainability are board-level concerns. Managing supply chain risk is about scenario planning, supplier diversification, and resilience modeling.