3 November 2010 | Angeline Albert  

Energy firm Total has appointed a new CPO who will take up the post from next year.  

Sonia Sikorav became a member of Total’s corporate purchasing management team in October this year and will replace Jean Bié as senior vice-president of the department from 1 January 2011. 

Prior to joining Total, Sikorav was a senior recruitment consultant specialising in industry and procurement. From 2005-07, she was senior vice-president for products and strategy at Alstom Transport railway company. In an earlier position at construction group Saint-Gobain in 2000, Sikorav created and led the firm’s new purchasing department. While there she managed industrial development and steel operations for the technical ceramics business.

In 2009, Total UK had to defend itself against claims that it discriminates against British firms when awarding contracts. A strike in January 2009 at its Lindsey oil refinery in North Lincolnshire spread to other sites as workers protested at the use of foreign labour. The strike began when Total’s contractor Jacobs awarded a subcontract to Italian firm IREM which transferred its own employees to the contract.