R E A D E R PROFILE
by Merrill Douglas
Leading From the Center
P ick up a frozen pizza, moisturizer, or weekly planner, and you may well be holding a product from MeadWestvaco (MWV). Formed in 2002 by the merger of the Mead Company and Westvaco Corp., MWV provides packaging solutions for leading brands in health care, personal care, food and bever- age, media and entertainment, and many other industries. It also produces consumer and office products and specialty chemicals. Since the merger, this diverse, global com- pany has been centralizing its supply chain management. Chris Osen leads the team that
works from the center to create greater value for MWV’s business units and for customers around the world. As vice president of supply management, Osen is responsible for several broad areas. One team handles the company’s logistics execu- tion, moving an impressive volume of cargo. “MeadWestvaco is the 10th-largest container exporter in the United States,” says Osen. A second piece of Osen’s job involves crafting deals with the carriers moving that volume. “I source $450 million in transportation globally,” he says. Osen also oversees a strategic outsourcing team that decides which products MWV will manufacture itself and which it can source more effectively elsewhere. He runs Supply Chain Solutions, a consulting organization that helps MWV’s facilities around the globe improve their supply chain processes, and he manages
The Big Questions
What do you do when you’re not at work?
My twin boys are in their senior year of high school, so I try to devote as much time to them as I can. We especially like to play golf and travel. I recently took a “Diners, Drive- ins, and Dives” vacation with one son. Ideal dinner companion? My dad, who passed away 14 years ago. He’s the one who gave me my values. I’d want to have dinner with him and say thanks. Business philosophy? To surround myself with people who are smarter than I am. Then if we can’t add value, we need to quit. If you didn’t work in supply chain management, what would be your dream job? I would own a corner bar like “Cheers,” where I knew everybody in the place.
THE WHOLE PACKAGE
NAME: Chris Osen TITLE: Vice president of supply management, since 2002 COMPANY: MeadWestvaco, Glen Allen, Va.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Soil scientist, International Paper; regional MRO purchasing director, Scott Paper; purchasing manager, Simpson Paper; acquisition system manager, SAP implementation leader for logistics and procurement, vice president of logistics, MeadWestvaco. EDUCATION: BS, wildlife management, Southwest Missouri State University, 1983; MBA, University of West Florida, 1991.
10 Inbound Logistics • September 2009
FACING LOGISTICS CHALLENGES? USE IL’S 3PL EXPERTS AND
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