The financial services industry has seen significant shifts in recent years, with companies increasingly prioritizing innovation and efficiency to stay competitive. The global business environment demands agility, with organizations striving to optimize operations and enhance their strategic focus. Procurement and supplier management, once considered operational tasks, have now become critical to a company’s ability to adapt, and drive transformation. The increasing reliance on technology, alongside the need for a stronger importance on risk management and strategic partnerships, has reshaped how businesses function at every level.

In this context, Vanessa Pepperell, the COO and Strategy VP, has made remarkable contributions. With an extensive background in industries ranging from telecommunications to automotive parts, she has brought her wealth of experience to the finance sector. Vanessa’s leadership approach centers on driving long-term transformation, implementing strategic initiatives, and fostering continuous improvement. Her commitment to results, transparency, and team empowerment has established her as a trusted figure in her field.

Aquanima Grupo Santander, part of Banco Santander, operates within the progressing financial services space, where procurement and strategy have become essential drivers of success. The company continues to innovate and leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance its procurement processes and overall operations. Vanessa’s role has been critical in aligning these strategic priorities, enabling the company to remain at the forefront of change while maintaining a strong commitment to efficiency, growth, and sustainable practices.

Let’s understand Vanessa’s story:

Driving Global Change with a Focus on Continuous Improvement

Vanessa began her career at Telefónica before moving to Philips and later to Gestamp, a global leader in metal automotive parts, where she spent 20 years. Four years ago, she joined Aquanima, part of Banco Santander, after identifying an opportunity to introduce automotive processes and a continuous improvement mindset in an environment where such practices were not yet widely adopted. Throughout her career, Vanessa has focused on making a tangible impact on business on a global scale. Her leadership roles have consistently been centered on not only becoming a trusted internal partner but also leading change by example.

Leading Global Procurement Strategy and Driving Transformational Impact

Vanessa is globally responsible for overseeing all negotiations at one of the largest financial institutions. She also leads the development of the Procurement Strategy across various categories. This role directly impacts the P&L by driving improved results through savings while also serving as a key enabler of transformation. Her focus is on identifying best-in-class solutions and partners to design and implement top-tier products and services in the market.

Embracing Change Through Strategic Roadmaps and Effective Implementation

Vanessa believes that change should be viewed as an opportunity and that a clear strategic roadmap is essential for adopting new technologies and innovation. She highlights that this roadmap must always include change management as a key factor for success. Defining the best teams, ensuring effective communication, and achieving strong performance during the proof of concept (POC) and implementation phases are as critical as defining project goals and timelines.

Adapting Leadership Strategies for Success

Several years ago, while working at her previous company, Vanessa traveled to 22 countries worldwide with the same goal in mind for each location. In her current role, she continues to face this global challenge, where her leadership strategies are tailored to the specific stakeholders she engages with. She believes that cultural understanding and diversity are critical for success in global projects and leadership. Vanessa’s experience has shown that adapting communication styles, manners, and even a sense of humor can be effective tools for achieving success.

Embracing Continuous Learning and Upskilling

Vanessa has completed several programs at IESE and considers the experience to be highly rewarding. She believes that these programs push individuals out of their comfort zones, revealing that there is no singular way to approach challenges and projects. Through these programs, she gained valuable insights from her classmates. Vanessa stresses the importance of maintaining curiosity and a continuous appetite for learning, which she sees as essential for leading a global team in a complex environment. She also highlights the significance of upskilling and reskilling as key components of leadership success.

Promoting Transparency, Empowerment, and a Results-Driven Team Culture

Vanessa consistently promotes values such as Speak Up, Transparency, Honesty, Generosity, and a goal-oriented mindset focused on delivering results. She believes in delegating responsibilities and empowering her collaborators to grow and excel. Vanessa also highlights the importance of sharing successes, celebrating achievements, and helping others understand that hard work, combined with a positive working environment, creates a powerful foundation for success.

Balancing Day-to-Day Operations with Long-Term Strategic Focus

Vanessa often discusses her “double agenda approach,” which involves balancing day-to-day operations with a reliable escalation and information procedure for other tasks. She views strategy as a long-term pursuit, where it is crucial to establish a clear roadmap and align immediate steps with short-term adjustments while maintaining focus on the overall goal. Vanessa believes that stakeholders should see the results without feeling the impact of change. Achieving this balance is challenging, but it is essential for reaching long-term objectives.

Transforming Procurement with Technology and Strategic Partnerships

Procurement and supplier management have become increasingly strategic in recent years. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and crises in the Middle East have tested the strength of supply chains. These situations have led companies to recognize the need to reinforce 360º relationships with key partners, ensure comprehensive visibility of risks—from supply availability to cybersecurity risks from third parties—and rely on strong processes to ensure reliability. In addition, leveraging the latest technology is essential to improving operational efficiency. For example, at Aquanima Grupo Santander, a global tool powered by AI was implemented, significantly transforming operations. This tool has had a high impact on innovation, time to market, and agility and has allowed greater focus on strategy and business insights.

Embracing Growth, Curiosity, and Leadership by Example

Vanessa advises us to always ask questions, be proactive, and continue learning. She advocates for embracing new challenges that promote growth, not only by taking on more significant roles but also by participating in cross-functional projects. Gaining knowledge about the business and sector is essential, and curiosity is an invaluable trait. She believes in leading by example.

Driving Growth through Strategic Procurement and Adaptation

Vanessa’s professional goals are currently centered on advancing procurement and strategy by contributing to various global projects. She recognizes that the finance industry is undergoing significant shifts and that traditional banks must adapt. Achieving success and maintaining growth as a group requires doing more with less, accelerating change using the right technology, and staying attuned to market trends.