Chief Procurement Officer – Asia
Location: Penang, Malaysia
• Transformation and office set-up role
• Leading global hi-tech company and innovation leader
• Senior leadership appointment
A global high-tech equipment organisation is seeking to appoint a Chief Procurement Officer, Asia, to lead a strategically critical transformation of its sourcing and procurement capability across the region.
This is a foundational leadership role with a clear mandate: to establish and scale an Asia sourcing office in Penang, building deep supplier ecosystems to support the company’s flagship high-tech equipment business. Asia is central to the organisation’s long-term growth strategy, and this role sits at the heart of that ambition.
The Opportunity
Reporting into global leadership, the CPO Asia will work closely with international stakeholders across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, while maintaining a primary focus on Asia-based sourcing and supplier development.
You will be responsible for:
• Designing and standing up the Asia sourcing office, including operating model, governance, and capability roadmap
• Building and developing strategic supplier networks across Malaysia and wider Asia, with a strong commercial and category-led focus
• Leading category management strategies aligned to global business priorities
• Establishing robust supplier relationship management, supplier intelligence, and network knowledge
• Embedding best-in-class quality management, quality systems, governance frameworks, and procure-to-pay processes
• Hiring, developing, and leading a high-calibre regional procurement organisation
This role offers significant scope to shape strategy, influence global decision-making, and leave a lasting footprint within a business operating in high-growth and transformation mode.
The Profile
We are seeking a seasoned, contemporary procurement leader with a proven track record of building and leading procurement organisations in Asia.
The ideal candidate will bring:
• Senior leadership experience in procurement or strategic sourcing, ideally at regional or global level
• Demonstrated success building procurement teams and capabilities from the ground up
• Deep understanding of the Malaysia procurement and supplier landscape, particularly Penang, alongside broader Asia sourcing exposure
• Background in high-tech equipment or advanced manufacturing, with strong preference for experience in semiconductors or adjacent high-tech industries
• Strong commercial acumen, with hands-on experience across category management and supplier strategy
• Proven ability to operate in a global, matrixed organisation, engaging confidently with international stakeholders across regions
• A builder’s mindset — someone who enjoys creating structure, developing teams, and scaling capability in fast-moving environments
International exposure is essential. Candidates will have worked extensively within Asia while also partnering globally, and be comfortable navigating cultural, operational, and strategic complexity.
Why This Role
This is a rare opportunity to take on a true Asia leadership role with meaningful strategic ownership. For the right individual, it offers the chance to:
• Build a regional procurement function with genuine influence
• Anchor a long-term Asia sourcing strategy for a global high-tech business
• Play a critical role in shaping supplier ecosystems that underpin future growth
If you are a senior procurement leader in Asia with deep sourcing expertise, relevant industry exposure, and a passion for building at scale, this role represents a compelling next step.
Ben McDonald
Partner, Global Hi-Tech and Semiconductors Practice
Connexus Global