Santhanakrishnan Sekar

Procurement Professional with 18+ years of experience in Procurement Operations, Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM), Strategic Sourcing, Operational Risk, Supplier Compliance, Audit Support, PMO Governance and Experienced in partnering with business leaders, Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit, and cross-functional stakeholders to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor operational and third-party risks. Proven expertise in governance frameworks, SOX controls, supplier due diligence, KPI reporting, issue management, policy compliance, and continuous process improvement. Successfully led and supported 7 global transition programs (3 onsite and 4 offshore), ensuring seamless knowledge transfer, governance, stakeholder alignment, risk mitigation, and business continuity.

Currently pursuing Executive Postgraduate Program in Data Science – IIT Roorkee alliance with Intellipaat, integrating data-driven insights with operations excellence

Manager – PMO at HCLtech (2026-03 – Present)

Procurement Transition

• Supported PMO governance activities including status reporting, KPI tracking, and dashboard preparation for leadership reviews
• Managed RAID logs (Risks, Issues, Actions, Dependencies) and ensured timely mitigation and escalation
• Coordinated with cross-functional teams for project deliverables, timelines, and transition activities
• Prepared and presented weekly/monthly MIS reports and performance dashboards for stakeholders
• Facilitated governance calls, tracking action items and ensuring closure within defined timelines
• Assisted in transition management (onsite/offshore) including planning, tracking, and reporting progress
• Coordinated mitigation plans for high-risk issues
• Ensured governance compliance across transition programs
• Managed action-item closure and risk escalation

Assistant Consultant – Global Sourcing & Procurement at TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) - Technologies (2019-09 – 2026-02)

• Delivered approximately USD 2 million in cost savings and cost avoidance through strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and procurement optimization initiatives
• Managed the PO approval process by reviewing and approving Purchase Orders (POs), coordinating Legal Trigger approvals, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies, approval matrices, contractual obligations, and budget controls
• Conducted Spend and price analysis, evaluated supplier capabilities and commercial proposals, and leveraged data-driven decision making to optimize supplier selection, reduce procurement costs, and improve sourcing outcomes
• Coordinated with suppliers, logistics providers, and internal stakeholders to manage shipment tracking, delivery monitoring, and end-to-end logistics activities until Goods Receipt Note (GRN) completion, ensuring timely material availability and procurement compliance
• Monitored supplier performance through periodic business reviews, delivery tracking, and issue resolution to improve supplier performance and service continuity
• Led and mentored the procurement team, driving SLA adherence, productivity, service quality, and operational excellence
• Supported business users in Purchase Requisition (PR) creation, procurement planning, and Purchase Order execution
• Led Lean process improvement initiatives that reduced procurement response time, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced service quality
• Managed catalog administration, including catalog creation, maintenance, pricing updates, supplier enablement, and content governance
• Executed sourcing activities through RFP/RFQ processes, supplier evaluation, commercial negotiations, and contract finalization
• Drove cost optimization initiatives through alternate sourcing, supplier negotiations, material substitution, and long-term contracting strategies
• Managed P-Card operations, including reconciliation, invoice validation, policy compliance, and exception management
• Led the automation of the P-Card payment and reconciliation process, strengthening financial controls, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring timely reconciliation
• Automated invoice follow-up notifications for P-Card transactions, improving supplier responsiveness and reducing invoice aging
• Played a key role in the Coupa implementation, supporting procurement process transition, business readiness, system migration, and user adoption
• Executed User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for Coupa procurement workflows, validating business scenarios, resolving defects, and supporting successful production deployment
• Collaborated with Finance, Legal, Operations, and business stakeholders to ensure seamless procurement execution and continuous process improvements

Assistant Manager – IT Procurement, TPRM, 3PRM & Digital Support Services at TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) - BPO (2018-09 – 2019-01)

Third-Party Risk Management/ 3rd Party relation Management

• Managed end-to-end Third-Party Risk Management lifecycle, including vendor onboarding, due diligence, risk assessment, and periodic reviews
• Partnered with Procurement, Legal, Compliance, and Business stakeholders to strengthen Third-Party Risk Management governance
• Conducted supplier due diligence, operational risk assessments, and compliance reviews before vendor onboarding
• Supported audit activities by maintaining evidence, documentation, and remediation tracking
• Managed supplier risk scorecards, SLA compliance, and governance reporting
• Performed risk identification, issue escalation, and corrective action tracking for critical suppliers
• Improved supplier governance by implementing standardized risk review processes
• Supported SOX compliance and internal control activities across procurement operations
• Conducted supplier risk evaluations covering financial, operational, compliance, and reputational risks
• Ensured adherence to third-party governance frameworks, internal policies, and audit requirements (including SOX controls)
• Led vendor segmentation and risk categorization, enabling focused mitigation strategies for critical suppliers
• Monitored third-party performance through scorecards, SLAs, and KPIs, driving continuous improvement initiatives
• Collaborated with Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams for contractual risk clauses, data protection, and regulatory compliance
• Managed third-party audits and remediation plans, reducing risk exposure and improving supplier reliability
• Strengthened third-party relationship management through governance calls, stakeholder engagement, and escalation handling
• Contract Management (NDA, Execution, Affiliation, Redlining Negotiation)

Associate Manager – Direct & Indirect Materials at HCL Technologies – BPO Division (2015-08 – 2018-09)

• Led end-to-end procurement operations for Direct and Indirect categories, ensuring compliance with procurement policies, governance standards, and organizational procedures
• Managed supplier relationships, procurement planning, and contract lifecycle activities to ensure uninterrupted business operations and timely material availability
• Conducted supplier sourcing through RFP/RFQ processes, evaluated commercial proposals, negotiated favorable terms, and supported strategic supplier selection
• Collaborated with Procurement Leadership to review supplier performance, contract effectiveness, and sourcing strategies, driving continuous supplier development
• Investigated and resolved inventory, receiving, and financial discrepancies by partnering with cross-functional teams, ensuring data accuracy and operational compliance
• Implemented supplier performance scorecards and KPI-driven reviews, improving supplier accountability, service quality, and procurement efficiency
• Managed inventory replenishment through the Kanban system, optimizing inventory levels and improving supply continuity
• Reported operational performance, SLA adherence, delivery metrics, and governance updates to Senior Management (SM/GM), enabling informed business decisions
• Led a high-performing procurement operations team, driving SLA achievement, productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction across multiple client engagements
• Conducted governance reviews, performance coaching, and periodic appraisals to develop team capability and improve operational performance
• Partnered with clients and cross-functional stakeholders through regular governance meetings, ensuring effective communication, issue resolution, and stakeholder satisfaction
• Championed continuous improvement initiatives by streamlining procurement processes, improving operational controls, and enhancing service delivery

Executive – Team Lead | ATL | SME | Senior Buyer at Wipro Ltd – BPO Division (2010-10 – 2015-08)

Data Mining Executive & Data Quality Specialist at Visco Technologies (2008-05 – 2010-09)

Executive Postgraduate Program in Data Science – IIT Roorkee

Executive Diploma in Procurement & Contract Management – Athena Global Education

MBA in Human Resource Management – Loyola College, Pondicherry University

B.Sc. in Computer Science – D.R.B.C.C.C Hindu College, University of Madras