Events - Event View

Global supply chains are being reshaped by unprecedented disruption, shifting geopolitics, technological change, and rising expectations around resilience and sustainability. How can organizations adapt their procurement strategies while managing risk, controlling costs, and building long-term value?

Join us for a timely panel discussion on “Global Supply Chains, Procurement Strategies, and Lessons Learned,” featuring experienced leaders from across industries who will share practical insights and real-world experiences navigating today’s complex supply chain environment.

This panel will explore:

- How global supply chains have evolved in response to recent disruptions
- Procurement strategies for managing volatility, risk, and supplier relationships
- Lessons learned from pandemics, geopolitical shifts, and logistics challenges
- The role of technology, data, and digital tools in procurement decision-making
- Balancing cost, resilience, and sustainability in global sourcing

Raphael Crawford, Senior Advisor, Egon Zehnder, will moderate the discussion.

	María Brennan, Vice President of Global Supply Chain, Huntsman Corp María Brennan is a bilingual supply chain, procurement, and operations senior executive with extensive experience managing diverse global operations for Fortune 500 corporations and private companies. She manages multibillion-dollar budgets and leads transformation initiatives for start-ups, digital innovation, growth, scalability, and navigating business downturns. Before joining Huntsman in June 2025, she served as Chief Supply Chain Officer at Albemarle Corp. for four years and as Senior Vice President Procurement and Supply Chain at Domtar for more than six years. She earlier held Supply Chain positions at ConAgra Food, PepsiCo, and Merisant Co. María holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and has a Bachelor's of Science in Industrial Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
	Michael Brown, Executive Vice President, Global Operations, and Chief Supply Chain Officer, Milliken In his current role, Michael Brown leads Milliken’s global operations function, encompassing corporate logistics, transportation, sourcing, environmental health and safety (EH&S), corporate engineering, security, the Milliken Performance Solutions office, and Milliken’s consulting arm, Performance Solutions by Milliken. Michael joined Milliken in 2022. Michael brings over twenty years of leadership experience from Albemarle Corp. In his most recent role, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Bromine Specialties Global Business Unit. Throughout his career, Michael has lived in and managed manufacturing operations in South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Michigan, and Ohio. He has also overseen operations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and led the upgrade of Albemarle’s SAP production planning, maintenance, reliability, and quality systems. Michael holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and a chemical engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, which included a summer internship with Milliken.
	MODERATOR: Raphael Crawford, Senior Advisor, Egon Zehnder Based in Miami, Raphael Crawford is a senior advisor at Egon Zehnder. With over 22 years of experience in specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, and refining, coupled with extensive leadership expertise across diverse industries, Raphael focuses on accelerating business development, establishing strategic partnerships, and mentoring teams. He leverages his expertise in governance, operational excellence, and talent development to deliver impactful results for clients. Before joining Egon Zehnder, Raphael held C-suite and executive roles, including President and CEO of Ketjen Corp. and leadership positions at Albemarle Corporation and Rohm and Haas Company. He holds a Master of Science in Finance from the University of New Haven and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wesleyan University, and has completed advanced training in leadership and management, including the Executive Leadership Coaching Certification from Brown University and the Advanced Management Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Outside work, Raphael is a private pilot and culinary enthusiast. He also enjoys playing tennis and studying languages in his free time. He is actively involved in community service and is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants and the International Coaching Federation.
	Rodney Nijoka, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Albemarle Corp. Rodney Nijoka is a supply chain leader with a demonstrated history of driving process improvement and supply chain maturity in the chemicals industry. He is skilled in leadership, driving data-driven decision making, process optimization, organizational development, and operations excellence. He has held a variety of positions in his more than 25 years at Albemarle where he took on the role of Chief Supply Chain Officer in 2024. Previous positions include Regional Chief Operating Officer for North America and Europe, Vice President Global Lithium Supply Chain, and Senior Director Supply Chain. Rodney holds a Master of Business Administration as well as a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University.