CPO Crunch: Lessons in leadership, from an outgoing CPO - Procurement Leaders

CPO Crunch: Lessons in leadership, from an outgoing CPO By David Rae 11 May 2026 P&G’s Ana Elena Marziano shares the wisdom of her 37-year career It’s a rare privilege to hear from an outgoing CPO on the very last day of their career, even more so when they have just handed over the reins to one of the biggest roles in procurement. Ana Elena Marziano has been chief purchasing officer at US consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble for around six years, joining just before Covid brought the global economy to a grinding halt. It was nothing short of a baptism of fire. But with a career that had already spanned over 30 years at P&G with roles in manufacturing, supply network operations and HR, Ana Elena had developed the toolkit required to thrive. Last Thursday was her final working day, as she hands over the CPO role to Erik Roberts. Taking the time to join Procurement Leaders members on a CPO Connect call, Ana Elena offered a thoughtful analysis covering her time in role, the learnings that have stuck and her thoughts on the future of the function. It was an insightful session and the thoughts she offered were clear, jargon free and to the point. First, leadership matters – and saying no is an important part of that. CPOs must be choiceful, shield the function where necessary and be laser-focused on executing on strategy. Second, complexity is often self-inflicted. Leaders, she said, must constantly ask: “What is the problem we are solving for?” Ana Elena told members she is a believer in stepping back and questioning the “why” in a drive for simplification. Third, relationships are gold – both internal and external, something which is true during good times and bad. Trusted, long-term and mutually beneficial relationships are the difference between success and failure. Fourth, digitalisation is a strategy not a programme. Technology should be seen as fundamentally shifting procurement. Fifth, transformation comes from being bold and visionary, which itself takes courage. Leaders will always face people who resist change, but sticking to a clear, consistent and high-impact vision will win out. Finally, procurement is a profession – not a process or set of tools. Ana Elena is passionate about the function and a true believer in the value it delivers. “What we do is incredibly important,” she said. On behalf of everyone at Procurement Leaders and our members, I’d like to thank Ana Elena for her contributions to the community and wish her well in her next steps. To receive weekly insights from the Procurement Leaders community, sign up to the  CPO Crunch  newsletter using the link at the top of this page . The CPO Crunch Inspiring CPO community insights – straight from the source into your inbox. Subscribe to your CPO newsletter: Thanks for subscribing to the CPO Crunch newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for your first one. More insights Being a CPO: Probably the best job in the world READ MORE Research – Beyond centre-led: The future of procurement operating models READ MORE World Procurement Congress 2024: We’re only just getting started READ MORE Thought leader: How to get early supplier involvement right READ MORE Procurement – much more than a job READ MORE CPO Crunch: The procurement culture club READ MORE New research: supply chain transparency – enabling insights into the invisible READ MORE CPO Crunch: A rewarding time READ MORE CPO Crunch: Hydrogen making its mark READ MORE CPO Crunch: Looking back on the ‘year of AI’ READ MORE 2024 planning: Supporting growth by expanding strategic procurement and optimising operating models READ MORE Research: Purpose-driven procurement: Entering an age of holistic value READ MORE Research: High-velocity procurement READ MORE Can brands save profits without squeezing suppliers? READ MORE Next generation category management READ MORE CPO Crunch: Cause for (cautious) optimism READ MORE CPO Crunch: Building for the next crisis READ MORE CPO Crunch: Putting procurement at the heart of rapid investment READ MORE CPO Crunch: Communication key to cyber response READ MORE