SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PROCUREMENT IN ASIA
A Conversation with Jonathan Cheung, General Manager at CIPS Asia
With over four decades of international experience spanning Asia Pacific, North America, UK, and Europe, Jonathan Cheung brings unmatched insight to the procurement and supply profession. As General Manager for CIPS Asia, he leads with a mission to elevate procurement standards, empower professionals, and drive sustainable transformation across a region marked by complexity and rapid change.
In this exclusive interview, Jonathan shares his career journey, the strategic vision behind CIPS’ growing presence in Asia, and how the organisation is addressing some of the region’s most pressing challenges, from talent development and digital transformation to ESG integration and supply chain resilience. His perspective offers valuable guidance for procurement professionals looking to lead with purpose and stay ahead in an evolving global landscape.
Career Journey
With almost 40 years of experience, can you share your career journey and what led you to your role as General Manager for CIPS across Asia? What experiences have most influenced your approach to leadership and innovation in procurement and supply?
Jonathan Cheung’s career journey is a masterclass in strategic evolution and global impact. With over 40 years of experience across Asia Pacific, the US, UK, Europe, and Canada, his path to becoming General Manager for CIPS Asia is rooted in a blend of deep industry expertise, cross-border leadership, and a commitment to professional development.
His early career began in financial services and IT, followed by senior roles at EDS, American Express, PwC Consulting, CAPCO, HP, KPMG and BDO Singapore . These positions laid the foundation for his expertise in procurement transformation. At Citibank, he led strategic sourcing and procurement services across 17 countries in Asia Pacific, further reinforcing his belief that procurement is not just a function, it’s a force for strategic impact.
Jonathan’s transition into formal leadership at CIPS was driven by a desire to give back to the profession. After more than a decade of volunteering, including serving as ASEAN Advisor and Chair of the CIPS Asia Awards, he now leads efforts to champion professional development, ethical standards, and innovation across the region.
His leadership approach has been shaped by a wide range of experiences. Working across more than 20 countries has developed his cultural agility and inclusive mindset. Leading digital procurement and ESG initiatives, most notably as Procurement advisory at BDO Singapore and Founder of the ESG Institute, sharpened his focus on sustainability, responsible sourcing, and data-driven decisionmaking.
As a Chartered Fellow (FCIPS) and certified trainer, Jonathan also believes strongly in mentorship and structured learning. He empowers teams through applied learning, embeds development into realworld impact, and benchmarks procurement processes against global standards.
Today, he drives membership growth, qualifications, and training across 24 countries in Asia from the CIPS regional office in Singapore. His mission is to build resilient, ethical, and agile supply chains that not only support business growth and risk management but also drive long-term value and transformation.
Jonathan sees procurement as a platform for influence and innovation. He is passionate about raising the profession’s profile, particularly in Asia, and is committed to inspiring the next generation of procurement leaders. In his view, the leaders of tomorrow won’t just manage spend; they’ll shape strategy, sustainability, and society. And he’s here to help them rise.
Establishing CIPS Presence in Asia
With CIPS opening its first office in Singapore, what are your primary objectives for establishing a stronger presence in the Asia region? How do you envision this impacting the local procurement and supply community?
Opening our first regional CIPS office in Singapore is more than a milestone, it’s a strategic commitment to advancing procurement and supply standards across Asia. Serving 24 countries, this hub will anchor our efforts to elevate professional practice and empower procurement leaders throughout the region.
Our core objectives begin with localising global excellence. We aim to provide direct access to CIPS qualifications, resources, and thought leadership, tailored specifically to the needs and nuances of Asian markets. By accelerating capability-building, we will deliver world-class training and certification to support professionals at every stage of their careers.
We also seek to drive regional collaboration by fostering cross-border networks that enable shared innovation and resilience. A key priority is embedding sustainable and ethical procurement by championing ESG principles and promoting responsible sourcing at a strategic level.
Ultimately, our goal is to help transform procurement’s role from an operational function to a strategic enabler, helping organisations unlock value, manage risk, and build agile, future-ready supply chains.
Singapore’s connectivity, innovation culture, and policy leadership make it the ideal launchpad for this vision. We anticipate a thriving, empowered community of procurement professionals across Asia, united by purpose, equipped for impact, and recognised for their strategic contributions. This office is not just a geographic expansion, it’s a catalyst for regional transformation.
Addressing Regional Procurement Challenges
CIPS Asia offers a Procurement Advisory as a service. How does this approach differ from traditional procurement methods, and what benefits does it bring to your clients?
The Asia region’s procurement landscape is as dynamic as it is complex, marked by diverse regulatory frameworks, fragmented supplier ecosystems, and rapid digital transformation. At CIPS, we recognise that navigating this environment requires more than technical expertise. It demands agility, insight, and a strong professional network. Through our new Singapore office, which serves 24 countries, we’re embedding global standards while tailoring solutions to reflect local market realities. This regional relevance is central to how we operate and support our members on the ground.
We are focused on building capability at all levels of the profession. Our offerings include globally recognised qualifications, targeted microlearning, and executive training designed to equip professionals with the skills they need to manage risk, drive value, and lead transformation in their organisations. Knowledge and insight are also key pillars of our support. Members gain access to exclusive resources, including regulatory briefings, ESG toolkits, and thought leadership on emerging trends such as Scope 3 emissions and supplier diversity.
CIPS is committed to fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration. We bring professionals together through roundtables, forums, and regional events, creating opportunities for shared learning and innovation across borders.
We also engage in advocacy and standards development, working closely with governments, industry bodies, and academic institutions to promote ethical procurement, harmonise best practices, and elevate procurement’s strategic role across the region.
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Promoting Sustainability and ESG Practices
Sustainability and ESG considerations are becoming increasingly important in procurement. How is CIPS encouraging and supporting procurement professionals in Asia to integrate these practices into their operations?
Sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern, it’s a defining imperative for procurement and supply professionals across Asia. At CIPS, we believe procurement is uniquely positioned to lead the ESG transformation, and we’re committed to equipping professionals with the tools, insights, and community to make that leadership count. Our support begins with education and certification. We offer globally recognised qualifications and ESG-focused training that empower professionals to embed sustainability into sourcing strategies, supplier management, and contract design.
To translate ambition into measurable impact, we’ve developed the CIPS ESG Metrics Framework. This practical tool helps organisations align procurement KPIs with board-level sustainability goals, ensuring ESG is not just a principle but a performance driver.
Through our Intelligence Hub, members gain access to cutting-edge research, toolkits, and realworld case studies covering critical topics such as Scope 3 emissions, supplier diversity, and ethical sourcing. These resources are designed to guide procurement teams through both the strategic and operational aspects of ESG integration.
Our regional presence, centred in our Singapore office and spanning 24 countries, plays a key role in localising global standards. We host forums, roundtables, and awards programmes that spotlight ESG excellence and foster cross-border collaboration and innovation
Beyond support, we actively engage with governments, regulators, and industry bodies to shape policy and promote responsible procurement practices. Our goal is to drive long-term value, resilience, and ethical outcomes across supply chains.
We’re not just encouraging ESG adoption, we’re building a movement. A movement where procurement professionals are empowered to challenge the status quo, champion ethical practices, and design supply chains that serve both business and society.
This is our moment to lead with purpose. And at CIPS, we’re here to walk that journey alongside every procurement professional across Asia.
Leveraging Technology and Data Analytics
With the rapid advancement of technology, how is CIPS assisting procurement professionals in Asia to leverage data analytics and digital tools to enhance supply chain resilience and efficiency?
Technology is reshaping the very core of procurement and supply chain management, and at CIPS, we’re ensuring professionals across Asia are not just keeping pace but leading the charge. Our mission is to empower procurement leaders to harness data analytics and digital tools as catalysts for resilience, agility, and strategic impact.
We support data-driven decision-making by providing access to big data frameworks that help professionals identify trends, manage supplier risk, and optimise spend across complex supply networks. Our Intelligence Hub offers curated insights, predictive analytics guidance, and case studies that help turn raw data into actionable strategy.
To prepare professionals for digital transformation, our qualifications now include modules on emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and smart contracts. We also spotlight awardwinning initiatives, such as Resorts World Sentosa’s use of predictive dashboards and robotic process automation, to showcase how digital innovation can be practically applied.
Through our Singapore office, which serves 24 countries, we are localising global best practices to support digital adoption in Asia’s diverse markets. We regularly host webinars, roundtables, and hybrid events to explore real-world applications of technology, from supplier onboarding platforms to ESG tracking systems.
CIPS also promotes strategies that build resilient and efficient supply chains. These include end-toend visibility, multi-sourcing approaches, and digital risk management tools that help organisations respond swiftly to disruptions. We advocate for technology-enabled resilience, where efficiency and agility converge through smart systems and collaborative platforms.
This isn’t just about automation, it’s about transformation. CIPS is equipping procurement professionals to become architects of future-ready supply chains, where data drives decisions and digital tools unlock new possibilities.
Enhancing Professional Development Opportunities
Professional development is crucial for career advancement. What initiatives does CIPS have in place to provide training and certification opportunities tailored to the needs of procurement professionals in the Asia region?
In today’s fast-evolving procurement landscape, professional development isn’t optional, it’s essential. At CIPS, we’re deeply committed to empowering procurement professionals across Asia with the skills, credentials, and confidence to lead with impact. We offer a structured pathway of globally recognised qualifications, ranging from Level 2 Certificate to Level 6 Professional Diploma. These are aligned with our Global Standard for Procurement and Supply and are recognised across industries and borders. This pathway enables professionals to work towards MCIPS Chartered status, the gold standard in procurement.
But we don’t stop at individual development. True transformation occurs when both people and processes evolve together. That’s why we offer a powerful combination of the Applied Learning Programme and the Procurement Excellence Programme, designed to elevate procurement capability at both the individual and organisational level. The Applied Learning Programme, also known as the Corporate Award, enables teams to achieve MCIPS Chartered status through real-world assignments instead of traditional exams. It embeds learning into daily operations, delivering immediate performance improvements. With both Practitioner and Advanced levels available, the programme can be tailored to a team’s maturity and strategic goals, offering measurable ROI and aligning capability development with business objectives.
The Procurement Excellence Programme is the only independent, comprehensive procurementspecific assessment of its kind. It allows organisations to benchmark their procurement function against CIPS world-class standards and earn recognition at Standard, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels based on maturity and impact. More than just a benchmark, the assessment acts as a catalyst for transformational change, aligning procurement functions with ESG goals, digital innovation, and strategic business influence. Together, these initiatives form a holistic capability ecosystem, where individuals grow through structured and applied learning, and organisations evolve through continuous process excellence. With our Singapore office supporting 24 countries across Asia, CIPS is well positioned to partner with both professionals and corporates to build resilient, ethical, and futureready procurement functions.
Building Strategic Partnerships
Collaboration with local organisations and educational institutions can amplify CIPS’s impact. Are there any strategic partnerships or collaborations that CIPS is pursuing to strengthen its presence and support in Asia?
At CIPS, we know that collaboration is the catalyst for transformation. To truly elevate procurement and supply across Asia, we’re forging strategic partnerships with local organisations, educational institutions, and industry bodies that share our vision for excellence, ethics, and innovation. We work closely with approved higher learning centres throughout the region to deliver CIPS qualifications through facilitated workshops, webinars, and eLearning. This ensures our training is both accessible and locally relevant, meeting the needs of professionals in diverse markets.
Our university accreditation programme enables students to pursue degrees aligned with CIPS standards, offering a direct pathway to MCIPS Chartered status. This approach embeds procurement excellence into academic curricula and strengthens the profession from the ground up. In collaboration with regional partners, we also support the adoption of global procurement and supply standards in both public and private sectors. These efforts contribute to broader transformation agendas, enhancing the credibility and influence of procurement functions across Asia.
We actively engage with corporates, SMEs, and educational institutions through conferences, fireside chats, keynote addresses, and roundtable discussions. These initiatives focus on advancing ESG practices, managing Scope 3 emissions, and promoting supplier sustainability, ensuring procurement plays a central role in achieving long-term value and resilience. Our Singapore office, which serves 24 countries, acts as a regional hub for training, certification, and community engagement. We regularly host joint events and celebrate innovation through initiatives such as the CIPS Asia Excellence in Procurement & Supply Awards, which foster cross-sector dialogue and highlight regional best practices.
CIPS also supports faculty development and curriculum integration to ensure that procurement education is grounded in real-world challenges and aligned with evolving strategic priorities. These partnerships are not just transactional, they’re transformational. By working hand-in-hand with local champions, CIPS is building a thriving ecosystem where procurement professionals are empowered, organisations are elevated, and supply chains are reimagined for resilience, sustainability, and strategic impact.
Addressing Talent Retention and Skills Development
The CIPS Asia Salary Guide indicates challenges in talent retention and skills development within the region. What strategies does CIPS recommend to organisations to attract and retain top procurement talent?
The CIPS Asia Salary Guide reveals a clear truth: talent retention and skills development are among the region’s most pressing challenges. With rising demand, budget constraints, and a competitive job market, organisations must rethink how they attract, engage, and grow procurement professionals.
At CIPS, we advocate for a multi-dimensional strategy that goes beyond compensation to build meaningful, purpose-driven careers.
First and foremost, organisations must invest in professional development. Providing access to CIPS qualifications and MCIPS Chartered status offers a globally recognised mark of excellence that enhances both individual capability and career progression. Applied Learning Programmes, which embed development into day-to-day roles, deliver measurable performance improvements while building long-term loyalty. Continuous learning opportunities, through microlearning, executive workshops, and training focused on key trends like ESG, digital procurement, and supplier diversity, help keep skills current and relevant.
Equally important is the creation of purpose-driven roles. Today’s professionals seek more than just a paycheck, they want to make a difference. Aligning procurement roles with broader ESG goals, social impact, and organisational transformation helps attract values-driven talent. It also reinforces how procurement contributes to sustainability, innovation, and business resilience.
Building a culture of recognition and inclusion is essential. Initiatives like the CIPS Asia Excellence in Procurement & Supply Awards spotlight innovation and leadership, providing role models and inspiring excellence across the profession. Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) into hiring and development practices not only strengthens teams but also fosters belonging and unlocks creativity.
Clear career pathways are also key to retaining top talent. Organisations should provide structured progression routes, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities. Tools such as the CIPS Salary Guide and Skills Calculator can support benchmarking and help identify growth opportunities for individuals and teams alike.
Finally, we encourage organisations to collaborate with CIPS. Through our Singapore office, which serves 24 countries, we work with companies to co-design training programmes, conduct capability assessments, and support strategic workforce planning. Leveraging initiatives like the Procurement Excellence Programme enables organisations to benchmark their function and enhance their reputation, making them more attractive to high-calibre talent.
In a region where 46% of procurement professionals expect to change jobs within the next 6–12 months, the message is clear: organisations that invest in their people will win the talent war. At CIPS, we’re here to help you build careers that matter, and procurement teams that lead with purpose.
Future Trends in Procurement and Supply
What emerging trends do you foresee shaping the future of procurement and supply in the Asia region, and how is CIPS preparing its members to adapt to these changes?
The future of procurement and supply in Asia is being redefined by disruption, innovation, and purpose. From geopolitical shifts to digital acceleration, the region faces a complex and rapidly evolving landscape, but it also presents a profound opportunity for procurement professionals to lead global transformation. At CIPS, we see several key trends shaping the future of the profession across Asia, and we are preparing our members not just to adapt, but to thrive.
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence are at the forefront. Technologies such as automation, predictive analytics, and generative AI are revolutionising sourcing strategies, supplier relationship management, and risk forecasting. In parallel, ESG and sustainability leadership are becoming core responsibilities within procurement. More than ever, organisations are relying on procurement teams to help them meet net-zero goals, manage Scope 3 emissions, and embed ethical sourcing into their operations. Geopolitical volatility, rising protectionism, and supply chain disruptions are also driving demand for agile, multi-sourced, and localised supply strategies to build greater resilience.
Building a culture of recognition and inclusion is essential. Initiatives like the CIPS Asia Excellence in Procurement & Supply Awards spotlight innovation and leadership
Another critical factor is the widening talent and capability gap. As 60% of procurement leaders in the region prioritise staff development, the need for targeted upskilling is more urgent than ever. Meanwhile, procurement’s role within the organisation is expanding, with greater board-level influence and strategic input across innovation, compliance, and corporate growth.
To address these shifts, CIPS is evolving its support to the profession. Our qualifications have been updated to include modules on AI, blockchain, ESG, and digital procurement, all aligned with the Global Standard for Procurement and Supply. Our Intelligence Hub gives members access to forwardlooking insights, including our Global State of Procurement & Supply 2025 report, which offers datadriven analysis and strategic guidance.
Regionally, our Singapore office serves as a hub for 24 countries, delivering tailored training, events, and community engagement that reflect local needs while embedding global best practices. Through initiatives like the Applied Learning Programme and the Procurement Excellence Programme, we help both individuals and organisations build future-ready capabilities. We also convene global leaders through our Vision 2050 initiative and Futures Conferences, offering a platform to explore the future of procurement, from digital innovation and supplier engagement to ESG-driven transformation.
This is a defining moment for procurement in Asia. CIPS is committed to ensuring our members are not only prepared for the future, but equipped to shape it.
Advice for Aspiring Procurement Leaders
As a leader in the procurement and supply field, what advice would you offer to professionals aspiring to advance their careers in this industry, particularly within the dynamic context of the Asia region?
As a leader in procurement and supply, my advice to aspiring professionals, especially within the dynamic and diverse context of Asia, is simple yet profound: lead with purpose, learn relentlessly, and give back generously.
Procurement today is no longer just about cost savings; it’s about creating value, driving sustainability, and building resilient, forward-looking supply chains. If you want to advance your career, start by aligning your work with broader business goals and societal impact. Be curious, ask strategic questions, and continuously seek ways to position procurement as a driver of innovation and transformation within your organisation.
The pace of change across Asia demands agility and a commitment to lifelong learning. Investing in your development is critical. Pursuing CIPS qualifications, progressing from Level 2 to Level 6 and ultimately achieving MCIPS Chartered status, can provide both credibility and capability. Applied Learning Programmes, which embed learning into real-world assignments, are another powerful way to build practical skills with measurable business outcomes. Staying ahead of key trends like AI, Scope 3 emissions, and supplier diversity through digital and ESG-focused training will further strengthen your relevance in an evolving landscape. Seek out mentors, engage with industry forums, and stay connected to the pulse of the profession.
Equally important is the principle of giving back. This profession has offered me tremendous opportunities, and I firmly believe in paying it forward. Whether through mentorship, sharing insights at events, or supporting the next generation of talent, we all have a role to play in building a strong, ethical, and empowered procurement community. Share your knowledge, celebrate others’ successes, and contribute to the development of a profession rooted in excellence and integrity.
Asia is a region of immense opportunity and complexity. Those who embrace its diversity, invest in their own growth, and lead with integrity won’t just advance their careers, they’ll shape the future of procurement.
CIPS Asia is the regional arm of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), the world’s largest professional body for procurement and supply. Serving members and organisations across Asia-Pacific, CIPS Asia is dedicated to advancing best practice, professional standards, and ethical excellence in procurement and supply chain management. Through globally recognised qualifications, thought leadership, and tailored training programmes, CIPS Asia supports professionals in building resilient supply networks, driving sustainable value, and shaping the future of procurement across diverse industries.
Jonathan Cheung GM - Asia