How did you come to join A.P. Moller - Maersk?
I had experience of purchasing from a UK shipping company, so joining A.P. Moller - Maersk was a logical step for me. My first position was in the Purchasing Department, focusing on ship-related purchases.

What does your daily work consist of?
I am currently in charge of a section responsible for Procurement of Indirect Categories (such as travel and IT procurement). The main aims of this group are to come up with a strategic direction for each focus area, ensure that the agreements made are accessible throughout the company, and to continuously seek new areas for sourcing.

I have also had the opportunity to develop skills through coaching, working on sourcing seminars, contributing to sourcing procedures, finding new sourcings and participating in seminars on procurement.

How has your career developed at A.P. Moller - Maersk?
My areas of focus have varied enormously from shipping to industrial activities, often involving multi-million dollar contract decisions. This variety is a daily challenge but it’s also a great pleasure. It keeps me on my toes as far as procurement skills are concerned (project management and negotiation skills, especially).

What do you particularly like about your job?
I find the work truly interesting and enjoyable. It’s great to work with interesting and motivating people in an area that’s still not completely chartered by the business world. The main departmental asset is people, so a lot of time and money is invested in education and training, and there’s a good balance between internal and external courses.
For me, other highlights include involvement in significant high-level projects; shifting procurement from a pure cost-cutter to a value-creator; and the variety of different areas we work in (including visits to factories, shipyards and operation sites).
It’s very motivating to be involved in so many new initiatives. I feel that we can all be part of shaping the way the department will look tomorrow.