Q&A with Chris Hampden, Southeast Asia leader of ArcBlue

Based out of Singapore, Chris Hampden leads the Southeast Asia business of ArcBlue, an international consulting firm specialised in procurement and supply chain services. As he closes in on his 3-year anniversary at the firm, we asked him six questions about his work in procurement and exciting developments at ArcBlue in the region.

You’ve been focusing on strategic procurement for over a decade. What attracts you to the field?

The diversity of activities and engagements you can be involved in – commercial negotiations, strategy development, operational performance, supplier collaboration, sustainability, cost management. That diversity of scope is something that I genuinely love about procurement, especially as all these areas are critical in shaping the success of a company.

I also enjoy the fact that procurement can add so much value to any organisation. Sometimes people assume that procurement is simply there to chase every last dollar and cent out of a contract. Of course, driving competitive pricing is an important part of the job, but procurement can add so much more value. If done well, procurement can be a real strategic differentiator.

What kind of project are you working on currently?

I am currently working on a couple of really interesting ArcBlue projects. One is around developing our sustainable procurement offers, looking at how we can enhance the support we can provide our clients on their sustainability journey.

The second is working with a multinational to review their end-to-end procurement processes, with a focus on identifying improvement opportunities around how health, safety and security practices are integrated into the way procurement operates and engages with the supply chain.

Close to three years at ArcBlue, what has been the most interesting project that you have worked on?

There are so many projects I can choose from, but if I had to pick one then I think it would be the work I did to help reshape the aerospace supply chain for a world-leading aerospace manufacturer. This involved identifying, developing, negotiating, onboarding and managing relations with potential new suppliers in best-cost countries across the full value chain of commodities (materials, castings & forgings, machined / fabricated components, special processes, and so on).

Having the opportunity to visit so many suppliers and see the development of some of those companies into key strategic suppliers over time was an absolute privilege and something I am very proud of.

You lead the Southeast Asia business of ArcBlue – there’s a lot happening in the region. What are some of the highlights?

Indeed, we are making a growing impact in the region and expanding, supported in this goal by our parent Bain & Company. One highlight is the launch of a new office in Malaysia, which marks a vital part of our Southeast Asia growth strategy, and underscores our commitment to delivering top-tier procurement and supply chain solutions across the region.

Kuala Lumpur, with its dynamic business environment, is the ideal location for us to further strengthen our regional expertise and enhance the value we provide to our clients. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of spending significant time in Malaysia, particularly in Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak, and I’ve developed a deep belief in the nation’s exciting potential.

Another recent highlight is our recognition as Best Procurement Consultancy at the 7th Annual CPO Asia Summit & Awards 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, and meanwhile, over in Australia, we were named a leading procurement consulting firm.

These awards reflect the hard work, dedication, and innovative spirit of every ArcBlue team member. Our focus has always been on delivering excellence and value to our clients, and these awards underscore our commitment to leading the way in procurement and supply chain management.

You’re brimming with pride talking about ArcBlue. What’s the reason you love to work at the firm?

There are several great reasons for me to love ArcBlue, one of which is the really positive feeling I have when talking to everyone within the company. It is very rare to come across a company culture where everyone is genuinely open, collaborative and down-to-earth, but this certainly exists within ArcBlue.

This stems from the leadership within the company, but I also think it helps that the company is full of real-world practitioners that have lived and breathed procurement and share a common interest in wanting to help companies to get procurement ‘right’. The other major personal factor was the exciting growth trajectory for the business across Asia Pacific, and the opportunities that it presents to work on projects that add value to clients across different industries and cultures.

Finally, what major trend in procurement would you like to single out?

Sustainability is the immediate and obvious trend that comes to mind, with a lot of the focus in the corporate world on addressing climate change challenges through their carbon footprint in particular.

On a slightly different note, I would also highlight an increasing trend towards supplier collaboration and engagement, as companies start to realise that their ability to address key strategic challenges (including sustainability) cannot be done in complete isolation, and looking at key suppliers as genuine partners is far more valuable than viewing suppliers simply as a cost that is there to be squeezed.