Jose Bustillo is the Procurement Excellence Lead at the best-in-class Spend Intelligence and Procurement Performance solution provider SpendHQ. He joined SpendHQ in March of 2024 from KPMG and previously, Bvlgari leading large and complex procurement transformation projects. Jose is deeply committed to driving success through procurement excellence by assisting organizations in implementing top-tier procurement solutions that bolster procurement optimization and digital transformation efforts.
He is also a Procurement content creator on LinkedIn and founder of SOMOS Procurement. SOMOS aims to inspire young minds from colleges and universities or anyone new to the procurement industry, showcasing the incredible opportunities within procurement.
Jose’s purpose is to continue to drive innovation and help raise the profile of procurement and as you will see from our interview below, he loves his work.
Jose how did you get into Procurement and what do you love about Procurement?
I got into Procurement almost by accident, or perhaps it was fate. I studied Economics and Communications with the dream of becoming a broadcaster for one of the largest Spanish TV stations in the US. I did work in broadcasting briefly after college but soon found myself joining a small fashion company in NYC as a Purchase Order EDI Administrator. From there, I moved to Bvlgari as their first Procurement Professional for the Americas. My journey continued with the Procurement Advisory practice at KPMG, and now, I lead Procurement Excellence at SpendHQ, the leading provider of enterprise Spend Intelligence and Procurement Performance Management solutions.
I love my work! My passion for procurement stems from the purpose I see in everything I do—whether it’s benefiting my company, our clients, or future generations. Procurement is a dynamic field, full of daily challenges and opportunities that keep it engaging and never boring.
What excites me most about procurement is the collaboration it requires across various functions. This collaboration strengthens relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, leading to significant cost savings and value creation.
Procurement has been like a continuous education for me. The learning never stops, especially with the rapid changes in technology, the adoption of new processes, Gen-AI, and emerging trends. For anyone interested in this field, procurement offers a clear path for career advancement.
Modern procurement is truly exciting. I’ve met so many incredible professionals and worked with numerous companies and functions around the globe; opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I were in another industry.
Procurement is a growing profession with a diverse skill set that prepares you to tackle the most challenging tasks. Best job out there!
What can procurement do better?
Procurement needs to elevate its profile and create greater awareness about its role and value within organizations. Many people still don’t fully understand what procurement does and the significant impact it has. We need to tell our stories more effectively, engage more deeply with various business functions, and collaborate more effectively. We must be visible and proactive.
As influencers and strategic advisors within our organizations, we must consistently reach out and take action to drive results. Effective collaboration is key to raising procurement’s profile, and that process begins with us, the professionals in the field.
Procurement has positively transformed my life. While some may disagree, I believe procurement is the best job out there. The continuous learning, the diversification of new skills, and the focus on collaboration and influence are incredibly rewarding. It’s time to move beyond the notion that procurement is solely about cost savings – it’s much more than that!
To help strengthen the profile of procurement, I recently founded “SOMOS Procurement.” My goal with SOMOS Procurement is to share the value proposition of procurement with young talent and those new to the industry. By sharing my experiences, I hope to make a meaningful impact. When I first entered this field, I had no idea what procurement was all about, and I want to guide newcomers through the process and help them understand its significance.
As the saying goes, “People do business with people.” Procurement is a people-centric field. Building and managing relationships is crucial to success in this industry. First, understand and listen to people, then demonstrate the value of procurement by providing solutions to the problems they face.
The need to transform and innovate. Why Procurement Excellence?
I have always been fascinated by and passionate about Procurement Excellence. Many procurement teams strive not only to transform and innovate but also to be recognized as value drivers within their organizations.
Procurement Excellence supports this goal by aligning procurement strategies with the overall objectives of the organization. It serves the best interests of procurement by influencing, educating, inspiring, and engaging other internal and external stakeholders about the function’s importance.
When I had the opportunity to join SpendHQ and lead their Procurement Excellence, I was thrilled. From day one, I could feel the passion, energy, and purpose of my team.
At SpendHQ, we are dedicated to delivering best-in-class procurement software products focused on spend intelligence and performance management. We seek every opportunity to transform and innovate, and I am excited to help drive this transformation for our company, our clients, and future generations of procurement professionals.