United Airlines names new CPO

Former Kraft Foods procurement exec comes on-board as United's top buyer

By Dave Hannon -- Purchasing, 9/6/2007 8:10:00 AM

United Airlines has named Grace Puma as its new vice president of strategic sourcing and chief procurement officer (CPO).

According to a United press release, "Puma will lead United’s global procurement team in building sourcing strategies and technologies that align with the company’s efforts to improve its costs and productivity while ensuring suppliers meet quality standards for products and services and do so on a consistent basis.”

In the statement, Puma said “The continuous improvement work that United has under way gives us the opportunity to take United’s strategic sourcing initiative and transform it to a new industry-leading level.” 

Puma comes to United from her post as vice president of global indirect materials and services procurement for Kraft Foods, where she led the global sourcing team for several corporate, regional and operational buying services. Puma was also responsible for Kraft's Latin America and Asia Pacific regional procurement organizations as well as Kraft's supplier diversity program.

Prior to Kraft Foods, Puma led an international team that was responsible for the strategic sourcing of Motorola's cell phone accessories and electronic components. Puma also worked in procurement at Gillette and BASF Corp.

Puma is also a board member of the Institute of Supply Management.