Designing Category Management as a Business Capability - Not Just Procurement
5
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Category management is no longer just a procurement discipline.
In today’s complex and volatile environment, it must be designed as a business capability - one that aligns strategy, enables collaboration, and delivers impact across the enterprise.
In this Procurement Over Fika session, we explore how organizations can elevate category management by addressing the five foundational pillars that determine success:
- People – leadership, mindset, skills, and behaviors required for strategic impact
- Operating Model – clear ownership, governance, and alignment in complex organizations
- Processes – consistent, scenario-led category management that goes beyond savings
- Organization – unlocking capacity and enabling flexible, value-driven ways of working
- Technology, Data & Information – digitization, intelligence, and AI that turn strategy into action
Drawing on insights from Procure It Right (PIR) and practical experience with akirolabs, the discussion focuses on how these pillars come together in practice - and how digital enablement and AI can accelerate maturity, enforce strategic discipline, and make category management scalable and decision-ready.
Who should attend
- CPOs and senior procurement leaders
- Category and sourcing leaders
- Business and functional stakeholders involved in category decisions
- Anyone shaping the future of procurement
About the series – Procurement Over Fika
Procurement Over Fika is a akirolabs exclusive "Nordic conversation series" where we pause, reflect, and discuss how procurement and category management are evolving in real organizations.
Over coffee and honest dialogue, we explore strategic topics that matter — combining consulting insight, practical experience, and modern technology perspectives.
Each session is designed to be thought-provoking, practical, and relevant, with a focus on building capabilities that create lasting business impact.
Speakers
Michael Pleuger
CEO & Co-founder, akirolabs
Michael Pleuger is a pioneering procurement executive and digital transformation leader with over 25 years of international experience across industry, management consulting, and technology startups. As Co-Founder and CEO of akirolabs, he is driving the future of strategic procurement through AI-enabled solutions, helping organizations to unlock the next level of value and collaboration. Previously, Michael served as Senior Partner at Roland Berger and KPMG, leading global supply chain and procurement transformations for Fortune 500 clients and managing large multi-disciplinary teams. He began his career as a senior manager at Vodafone, playing a key role in designing and launching the Vodafone Procurement Company—laying the foundation for world-class digital procurement. Michael is widely recognized for his innovative thinking, his role as a keynote speaker, and his passion for positioning procurement as a value chain orchestrator and engine of business innovation.
Lutz Schirrmeister
VP of Solution Consulting, akirolabs
Lutz Schirrmeister is a procurement and solution consulting leader with over 15 years of international experience delivering complex procurement and operating model transformations. As VP Solution Consulting at akirolabs, he architects and leads AI-enabled procurement solutions, helping organizations unlock strategic value, optimize operating models, and scale collaboration across global procurement functions.
Throughout his career, Lutz has led cross-functional teams across EMEA, delivering large-scale transformations for Fortune 500 clients and designing operating models for more than 25 organizations across 11 countries. His expertise spans strategic sourcing, category management, and technology-driven procurement transformation.
Previously, Lutz held senior procurement and sourcing roles at IBM, including Strategic Sourcing Specialist and DACH Category Manager. He is recognized for his analytical rigor, pragmatic leadership style, and ability to bridge business strategy with innovative technology solutions.
Hubert Verweij
Associate Partner, Procure IT Right
Hubert Verweij is a highly experienced procurement transformation leader and strategic sourcing expert with over 20 years of international consulting and industry experience. He is known for driving digital, organizational, and process transformations that elevate procurement from a cost-focused function to a value-creating, resilient strategic capability.
Throughout his career, Hubert has led complex procure-to-pay and procurement transformation initiatives across industries, designing future-ready sourcing strategies, target operating models, and digital procurement solutions. His expertise spans organizational development, category strategy, supplier management, and technology-enabled process optimization.
Previously, Hubert served as Director of Operations and Procurement Transformation at PwC Sweden, where he guided global and regional clients through strategic sourcing, digitization, and sustainability-aligned procurement transformations. He is recognized for his pragmatic, people-centric leadership style, his ability to simplify complexity, and his focus on delivering measurable, lasting business outcomes.
Marvin Schaer
Manager, Procure It Right
Marvin Schaer is a dynamic procurement and supply chain leader with over five years of experience in management consulting and the automotive OEM industry. He currently serves as Manager at Procure It Right (PIR) in Stockholm.
Previously, Marvin served as Manager in PwC Sweden’s Operations practice, where he spearheaded project teams delivering transformative strategies and executing roadmap initiatives with precision. He worked closely with clients to optimize and fortify procurement functions and supply chain networks, focusing on defining robust sourcing strategies, driving process improvements, enhancing working capital efficiency, and ensuring seamless warehousing and logistics operations.
He is recognized for his structured, analytical approach and his ability to support clients in translating operational challenges into clear, actionable resolution plans.
Replays
See all
5
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM