Full name : Shiraz Sarang
Position : Chief Procurement Officer
Your organisations’ procurement expenditure : R12-billion per annum
Who does P & SM report to : Chief Financial Officer
Private sector or Public sector : Private
Core business activity of the enterprise : Financial Services
Number of people in your P & SM organisation : 67
Management motto : Anything’s possible.
Personal motto : Never give up on any dreams and aspirations
Membership of professional bodies : CIPS, IISA
What is your vision for P & SM : To elevate the profession to occupy a seat at Exco or Board level
Personal best achievement : Total cost of ownership reductions in excess of R200 million in one year
Most important commodities : Professional Fees, Marketing, Real Estate, Technology, Communications, Logistics and Travel
The person that has had the biggest influence on your life : My kids and mum
The person that has had the biggest influence on your career : Toni Sanders (Firstrand)
Person you would most like to meet : Dalai Lama
What do you like most about your job : Diversity and excitement the job brings. We are faced with constant and revolutionary change. Purchasing and supply professionals can play a significant role in the environment we find ourselves in – ambiguous and uncertain times.
Is there anything you dislike about your job : Nothing I can think of.
Businessperson who has impressed you most : Elon Musk
Favourite quote : “When you talk, you are only repeating what you know; but when you listen, you learn something new” – Dalai Lama
“The best way to predict the future is to create it” – Abraham Lincoln
Your favourite South African organisation : Nedbank
Your favourite global organisation : Paypal
Your philosophy about life : If one has the right attitude and priorities, nothing can come in one’s way.
Favourite reading : Moby Dick
Favourite music : R & B
Favourite sport : Golf
Favourite website : Takealot.com
Hobbies : Sport, reading, travelling
Car : Mercedes
Married : Divorced
Children : 2
Twitter handle : @ShirazsSarang
Facebook : Shiraz Sarang