Brendan already got to know the breadth of purchasing during his studies and initially joined an engine manufacturer and automotive group. He got to know the consulting industry from three different perspectives and decided to join Kerkhoff Consulting. Since joining, he has supported clients in a variety of current challenges and successfully transformed purchasing organizations into an established value-added partner. In addition to professional responsibility, Brendan also has the opportunity to continuously drive his personal development.
'I appreciate the working environment and the expertise within our own ranks. Everyone can rely on each other, we have great clients and varied project content.'
– Brendan Schäfer
Dynamics in purchasing - you can really make a difference here
In my opinion, there is no more dynamic function in a company than purchasing. For many years, security of supply was perceived as a matter of course for companies and the focus was often solely on price. A fallacy, as many companies painfully discovered during the disruptions in the supply chains. In addition to the general challenges, such as the shortage of skilled workers, digitalization and sustainability, which also affect procurement, we discuss a wide range of challenges with our customers. It is always exciting to see how different the companies are in each case. Procurement should act as a kind of "spider's web" and play a key role in driving forward the achievement of objectives by interlinking all relevant internal stakeholders.
My first experiences in purchasing
I was already aware of the importance of professional purchasing during my Master's degree in Business Administration. I was able to gain my first practical purchasing experience in an automotive group and at a large engine manufacturer in Australia. These positions were important to me and reinforced my choice of a career in purchasing. I wanted to gain further extensive experience in the consulting sector. After my Master's semester abroad in St. Petersburg, I decided to join Kerkhoff Consulting.
My first conclusion - counselling is not the same everywhere
After about 3.5 years in consulting, I can tell you today that my plan at the time worked out. In no other profession can you get to know so many different companies and challenges in such a short space of time as in management consultancy. It is particularly important to me to be able to learn a lot and to enjoy my work. I have found all this and much more at Kerkhoff Consulting. It is simply fun to work with great people. I appreciate the working environment and the expertise within our own ranks. Everyone can rely on each other, we have great clients and varied project content. We are certainly also recognised as a hidden champion because we tackle business complexity with a broad range of consulting expertise. I look forward to hearing from you if you have any further questions!
