GLOBAL COMMODITY LEADER (TRANSMISSIONS), ROLLS-ROYCE, 29
Chris Jones was marked out as one to watch by Rolls-Royce very early in his purchasing career. Equipped with a first-class degree from Nottingham Business School, he joined the company’s graduate training scheme. He was named the firm’s purchasing graduate of the year in 2002 and was also a runner-up in the chairman’s overall award for graduate trainee of the year.
His work in supply chain development in south Asia took him to India, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, and he was responsible for initiating and securing external funding from the European Union for a three-week training scheme to develop Indian suppliers.
In his current role as global commodity leader for the transmissions supply chain, he manages a team of 12 and controls a spend of about $100 million (£60.3 million) a year across the UK, US and Germany.
He has had to contend with rising pressures in the commodity market, as well as transforming relationships with major suppliers.
