Jesse Counihan, MBA

Experience

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  US Army

  Jul 2008 - Mar 2013

  Captain

  During my service in the US Army, I was awarded a Bronze Star for my exemplary command of a 28-soldier platoon across 200+ combat missions, leading efforts to analyze and counter enemy activity and increasing stability and security for thousands of Afghan citizens.In addition, I mentored senior Afghan military and police officers, partnering with organizations to improve critical systems of Afghan security forces and fostering competence to take leading roles in operations.

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  International Paper

  Apr 2013 - Oct 2021

  While in this role, I oversaw market strategy development and implementation for combined $800MM raw material annual expense categories. I also led teams through engagements in the complex global and regional strategic sourcing initiatives subject to the volatile commodities sectors.Furthermore, I negotiated breakthrough agreements with energy and utility suppliers, generating $82MM in added value through cost reductions and optimized Power Purchase Agreements.In addition, I partnered with a regulatory agency and a power utility to expand a renewable energy sales agreement, negotiating the deal under a strict two-month timeframe, securing an additional $68MM in revenue over 20 years.Lastly, I co-led a corporate council dedicated to achieving 2030 emissions goals, briefing C-Suite leaders on asset deployment opportunities and future strategy to achieve a competitive advantage with customers. Show less

  • Global Sourcing Manager – Energy

    Nov 2018 - Oct 2021

  • Procurement Operations Manager

    Jul 2015 - Nov 2018

  • Storeroom Supervisor

    May 2014 - Jul 2015

  • Senior Buyer

    Apr 2013 - Apr 2014
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  Albemarle Corporation

  Oct 2021 - now

  In my current role at Albermarle Corp, I direct a team of strategic sourcing leaders in developing innovative strategies to secure maximum value on reliable, high-quality goods and services in the Industrial Indirects categories. I also guide the category's strategy development and implementation management for a $700MM spend. In addition, I partner with functional stakeholders through category councils on regional and global scales to drive optimal performance on strategic initiatives. Furthermore, I implement value programs that strengthen and sustain a workplace culture of curiosity, continuous improvement, and excellence.Moreover, I achieved a 43% expansion in managed spend, reaching $693MM while delivering $47MM in value by consolidating and leveraging spend, and enhancing product innovation and standardization.Also, I co-chair an enterprise-wide working capital taskforce, representing Source-to-Pay. I implement industry benchmarks yielding a $38MM cash flow benefit to-date, with a roadmap built to achieve $43MM in 2025.Additionally, I establish Albermarle’s first category councils and lead the transformation to a globally strategic approach for the key Indirect categories, resulting in stronger engagement by supplier and internal stakeholders through fostering a dedicated-partner mindset across relationships.Furthermore, I drive the global initiative for supplier rationalization and tail-spend optimization, achieving an 80% reduction in the category supplier base and a >95% spend compliance by leveraging data and market research.I guide the overtime reduction program with Albemarle’s largest-spend services provider, resulting in being on-track to recognize $6MM in cost reduction by 2025.Lastly, I increased the Ariba Network supplier enrollment 75% while reducing the onboarding time by 40%. I delivered the first international catalog requisition capabilities, reaching 93% catalog utilization and 177% growth in transaction automation. Show less While in this position, I led an international team supporting Industrial Indirect categories and capital project procurement through engagements in complex national and regional strategic sourcing efforts impacting multiple business units.I partnered with regional leadership to spearhead a global renewable energy initiative, increasing renewable energy from 4% in 2022 to over 55% in 2024 (essential to achieving 2030 sustainability objectives).I also overhauled the energy forecasting model and process, improving accuracy by 90%. I built communication protocols to maintain consumption planning while lowering penalty fees.In addition, I improved collaboration with the capital project organization by jointly redefining roles and responsibilities, setting communication standards, and leveraging Long-Range Plan data to improve short-term demand forecasting. I increased procurement planning by two months while reducing sole-source requests by 66%.Lastly, I grew the diversity spend $2M in 2022, the largest increase across Global Procurement, while implementing the first global reporting on diversity spend achievement and target opportunities in Industrial Indirects. Show less

  • Senior Manager, Global Procurement and Value Programs

    Oct 2023 - now

  • Regional Manager, US and EMEA Strategic Sourcing

    Oct 2021 - Oct 2023
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  Ferroglobe PLC

  Dec 2024 - now

  Director of Procurement - North America