The CEO Forum Group Magazine Business 2023 (1) - Flipbook - Page 23
President Int’l, UPS Global Healthcare & Supply Chain Solutions
Robert Reiss: You have a very broad perspective
on what’s happening in the world. What do you
see as the core issues CEOs should focus on
internationally?
Kate Gutmann: International business is changing
dramatically. The trade flows that have been
prevalent for decades are shifting as manufacturing,
assembly and fulfillment move into new geographies.
It is critically important that CEOs position their
companies for the emerging global commerce
marketplace.
Leading companies are pursuing diverse sourcing
strategies to contain costs and limit disruption
risks. Supply chains are moving closer to recipients.
Sourcing models are evolving as regionalization
becomes prevalent. Agile companies are expanding
their sourcing into new geographies, including
Mexico, India and Southeast Asia. Companies are
also shifting their transportation routes and modes
to better balance service levels and operating costs.
Evolving demographics, including aging populations
and longer life expectancies, are also driving new
demand for healthcare solutions. Such trends are
important to keep in mind while planning supply
chain strategies.
These changes to the global business environment
require new approaches and solutions to create longterm customer value and business advantages.
What is the state of supply chain? And what advice
can you give CEOs who want to create a worldclass supply chain?
Global trade patterns are shifting, and business
models are evolving at an accelerating pace. In this
environment, the difference between business leaders
and laggards is often found in how they configure
and manage their supply chains, which comprise the
critical foundation for businesses today.
Supply chain design, planning and execution directly
impact a business’s operating results. Companies
with effective supply chains outperform their
competitors and create greater value for customers
and shareholders.
“Supply chains are moving
closer to recipients.”
Companies with best-in-class logistics and
transportation competencies report operating costs
that are significantly lower than their competitors.
They also result in higher growth in revenue, profit
and market capitalization compared with their
industry average. Global supply chains are always
changing. Leaders must understand this and adapt.
First, they need to sync their supply chains with
their company’s strategy. And it’s crucial that they
align and integrate their assets and operations with
those of partners, suppliers and customers. They
must be intentional in logistics positioning and
transportation routing, managing and combining
disparate modes with end-to-end solutions that
produce maximum benefit at each link in the chain.
The CEO Forum
Group has selected
Kate Gutmann,
President International,
Healthcare, Supply Chain, UPS for the 2023
Transformative CEO Award given to leaders
of the Top 10 Businesses in America. This
award recognizes Kate and the entire UPS
team in the category of Supply Chain for their
commitment to providing world-class logistics
services to customers across the globe.
www.theceoforumgroup.com The CEO Forum 21