Boris Welzen

Senior international procurement executive with 20+ years of experience across aerospace, defence, oil & gas, EPC environments, heavy industry, logistics, and high-tech manufacturing.

Former Vice President

Purchasing (North America) and Head of Procurement at Airbus Defence and Space, with a proven track record in procurement transformation, EPC procurement execution, supplier management, contract negotiation, and procurement recovery programmes. Recognised for rapid integration into complex organisations, delivering immediate impact on cost, supplier performance, governance, and operational delivery (on time, on cost, on quality).

INTERIM PROCUREMENT CONSULTANT - Independent - Europe, Middle East, and North America

(2021-01)

Independent executive interim procurement leader delivering transformation, EPC procurement execution, and targeted procurement recovery programmes across Europe, Middle East, and North America.

HEAD OF PROCUREMENT - AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE

Led end-to-end procurement function in complex aerospace & defence environment.

• Procurement transformation and operating model improvement
• Supplier performance optimisation and risk management
• Contract negotiation and procurement governance
• Cross-functional leadership across engineering, operations, and executive teams

VP PURCHASING - BRADKEN (HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY GROUP, USA) - USA

Led procurement transformation across North American operations within global industrial manufacturing group.

• Redesign of procurement processes and governance structures
• Supplier performance improvement and international sourcing strategy
• Cost optimisation and operational procurement effectiveness
• Leadership of international procurement teams across US and Canada

INTERIM EPC PROCUREMENT LEAD - DUTCH CLEAN TECH / PIELKENROOD INDUSTRIES

(2025-01 - 2026-01)

Procurement setup and execution within engineering-led EPC environments across water treatment and Oil & Gas projects.

• Established procurement function within greenfield operational environment
• Responsible for sourcing strategy, supplier selection, and contract negotiation
• Ensured delivery performance (on time, on cost, on quality)
• Implemented procurement governance (policies, procedures)
• Supported ERP / SAP procurement alignment and process integration
• Focus on cost control and project margin protection

LEAD NEGOTIATOR (F126 NAVAL DEFENCE PROGRAMME) - THALES

Lead negotiator for flagship defence programme (radar / IFF systems).

• Managed complex subcontract negotiations in multinational defence environment
• Delivered cost optimisation and strengthened contractual frameworks

PROCUREMENT RAMP-UP SUPPORT - THALES

• Supported category managers in backlog reduction and contract closure acceleration
• Contributed to procurement ramp-up for defence production programmes

INTERIM PROCUREMENT MANAGER - FOKKER SERVICES GROUP

• Category management for ICT, Logistics, Facilities, Temporary Labour
• Supplier renegotiations and operational procurement embedding
• Transition support towards permanent procurement organisation

PROCUREMENT CONSULTANT (INDIRECT SPEND) - GEODIS

Advisory role covering ICT, HR, Security, and Facilities procurement.

• Supplier consolidation and procurement optimisation initiatives
• Delivered sustainable cost reduction through re-tendering strategies

PROCUREMENT CONSULTANT (CONTINGENT WORKFORCE) - LOGICALL

Focused on temporary labour and logistics procurement categories.

• Delivered cost reduction through supplier base consolidation
• Negotiated improved contractual frameworks for contingent workforce

MSc - Industrial Engineering & Management Science - Eindhoven University of Technology (1993-01 - 2000-01)