When Ken Kerrigan (center) was brought on board at HCL America three and a half years ago, there was no structured procurement program in place. An experienced leader in the CW sphere, Kerrigan helped design one and build it into a dynamic, growing procurement strategy. “Everything is an accomplishment,” he says.

From putting in new rate cards and benchmarking tools, to making significant improvements to supplier contracts, to implementing a brand new payroll program, Kerrigan has helped develop a successful program that today boasts about 10,000 active contingent workers across 42 countries and 275 new suppliers sourced in the last year alone. Currently serving as the senior director of global procurement, he oversees worldwide sourcing, supplier performance and negotiation, filling of CW roles, perm recruiting, and more. 

“The purist in me likes this category because it’s people and personality,” he says, noting that he takes satisfaction in putting people to work. But there is always more work to be done; as new technologies emerge, Kerrigan and his team must leverage them to better fill demand. Currently, their sights are set on upgrading tech, implementing a VMS, and fine-tuning supplier lines. “I’m proud of the industry and how much it’s grown,” Kerrigan adds. “I want to continue to collaborate [with suppliers] and grow. … We’re all better off when we collaborate, share, and educate each other.”