This episode explores:

• How Kenvue defines its supply chain’s value proposition. (1:04)
• Kenvue’s approach to resilience and digital transformation in the current, highly volatile business environment. (3:52)
• Real-world examples of Kenvue’s investments to overcome barriers to supply chain transformation. (10:08)
• Actionable recommendations for CSCOs leading digital and talent transformations today. (15:27)

Host Thomas O’Connor and Kenvue COO Meri Stevens explore Kenvue’s use of digital investments to consolidate and target specific failure points that Meri refers to as “flow blockers.” They explore how this objective-driven approach helps focus the organization on big-picture problems and keep pace with today’s rapid pace of change. The pair close the show with recommendations for how CSCOs can effect similar transformations in their own organizations.

About the Guest

As Chief Operations Officer for Kenvue, Meri drives end-to-end transformation, accelerating operational excellence, digitization and automation to fuel growth and unlock value. Her organization spans supply chain, procurement and quality, and is dedicated to ensuring Kenvue’s portfolio of brands are consistently available to customers and consumers worldwide.

Previously, Meri served as Johnson & Johnson Worldwide Vice President, Consumer Health Supply Chain & Deliver, and prior Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain Strategy & Deployment. In these roles, she was instrumental in reinventing the organization to achieve world-class performance, including rising to the top five of the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 pyramid, receiving recognition by the World Economic Forum, developing a breakthrough 3D-printing innovation in medical devices and assuring the flow of critical medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meri’s extensive experience spans more than 30 years with senior leadership roles at global corporations, including Chief Supply Chain Officer at Newell Rubbermaid and various operations and procurement leadership roles at Tyco, Bertelsmann, Knoll and General Electric.

This episode explores:

• Maria Pia De Caro’s approach to making her team “agility champions” that can rebuild and reimagine supply chain structures to support business goals. (1:32)
• Pernod Ricard’s three pillars of supply chain productivity in today’s evolving trade environment. (4:51)
• Balancing talent specialization and generalization across the supply chain. (11:14)
• Actionable advice for CSCOs navigating today’s VUCA business environment. (16:38)

Host Thomas O’Connor discusses Pernod Ricard’s approach to supply chain productivity and agility with Maria Pia De Caro, the organization’s EVP of integrated operations and sustainability and responsibility (S&R). They explore adjusting supply chain operations to deliver on business fundamentals like service, cost and cash, as well as how Pernod Ricard drives productivity in today’s VUCA environment. They close the show with recommendations for CSCOs around boardroom communications that make the business stronger, more agile and faster in an environment where speed is crucial.

Gartner clients interested in finding out more about this topic can access the following:

Survive and Grow in This Volatile Tariff-Driven Economy

CSCOs Can Improve Their Influence With C-Suite Stakeholders

About the Guest:

Maria Pia De Caro is a seasoned leader in integrated operations and S&R, boasting over 25 years of global experience in supply chain and operations. Throughout her distinguished career, she has spearheaded multifaceted teams focused on engineering, manufacturing, M&A and supply chain innovation across renowned FMCG enterprises. Maria Pia’s journey includes pivotal roles at Procter & Gamble, Mondelez, Unilever and Nomad Foods in diverse locations such as Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, China and the U.K., before bringing her expertise to Pernod Ricard Group in 2023.

This episode explores:

• An overview of the expectations gap between AI investments and the results chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) are seeing. (1:58)
• How CSCOs can set an effective, long-term vision for AI in their organizations. (3:22)
• Putting that vision into action to craft better AI investment strategies. (6:30)
• Implementing and scaling AI solutions across the supply chain. (10:34)
• Actionable advice for CSCOs implementing AI systems into their supply chains. (13:21)

In this episode, host Tess Frenzel speaks with Gartner Senior Principal of Research Benjamin Jury about his research into generative AI’s (GenAI’s) impacts on the supply chain. They explore three critical junctures that supply chains tend to stumble over in their current approach to AI, and what CSCOs can do to resolve issues surrounding each one. Tess and Ben close the show with additional AI-centric recommendations for CSCOs implementing the technology into their supply chains over the coming year.

Gartner clients interested in finding out more about this topic can access the following:

Supply Chain Executive Report: Closing the AI Expectations-Reality Gap

About the Guest

Benjamin Jury is a Gartner senior principal of research, leading research projects that address chief supply chain officers’ key priorities. In addition to his executive report focused on maximizing the impact of AI in the supply chain, he is currently leading a research study on cost management. Before this role, Ben’s research agenda centered on the mission-critical priorities of heads of R&D and their teams.