Matilda Arhin

Over the past three decades, supply chain has transformed from a back-office function focused on efficiency into one of the most strategic capabilities in business. Few leaders have witnessed (and helped shape) that evolution more closely than Mourad Tamoud, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Schneider Electric. In a recent conversation with Scott Luton, Tamoud shared lessons from a career that began as a factory-floor intern and now spans global leadership. His perspective offers a compelling roadmap for organizations navigating AI, digital transformation, resilience, and the ever-changing demands of global supply chains. Supply Chain Has Become a Strategic Function Looking back on his early days at Schneider Electric, Tamoud noted just how dramatically the profession has changed. “When I started, I was coached with the understanding that supply chain was all about the ‘Just in Time’ approach and focused on cost reduction,” he said. “Today, supply chain sits at the center of business strategy. It is about supporting growth, anticipating resilience with agility.” That evolution has also reshaped leadership itself. “My biggest lesson has been that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about defining a long-term vision and building great teams, listening and helping people succeed. That’s…

A British logistician is credited with coining the term “supply chain management” in the early 1980s, but it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that the world became familiar with such aspects of supply chain operations as logistics, inventory and supplier management, and procurement. The influence of supply chain leaders also has grown with the understanding of the importance of the supply chain in the global economy. Supply chain management is a complex field with many moving parts, and the need for accurate and reliable information is more crucial than ever. Industry leaders help facilitate discourse and spur innovation to shape the future of the supply chain. In this article, we highlight five of these supply chain leaders, showcasing their extensive expertise and experience in the industry and what they are planning for the future. Making Moves: Five Supply Chain Leaders on the State of the Industry 2024 has been an exciting year so far. The OSRA 2022 ruling went into effect to better regulate demurrage and detention charges; Chinese e-commerce businesses are heating up the airfreight industry; and in dire contrast, the U.S. trucking industry continues to struggle through a lengthened lean patch. In an increasingly volatile ecosystem, the industry…