Christopher Ewolski
Wadsworth,OH
Summary
Dynamic sourcing leader with a strong track record in supplier relationship management, data analytics, and cost reduction strategies. Committed to driving operational excellence and fostering cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Sourcing
Avon Technologies Plc - Team Wendy
06.2025 - Current
- Developed sourcing strategies to optimize supplier selection and reduce costs, driving +$600k impact in less than 6 months
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align procurement goals with business objectives to achieve department and business objectives
- Conducted market research to identify potential suppliers and evaluate industry trends, introducing new Plastic suppliers to drive cost-out
- Managed relationships with key suppliers, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement initiatives by leading Business Reviews and regular collaboration meetings
- Analyzed purchasing data to inform sourcing decisions and improve inventory management while implementing a weekly Inventory Report to Senior Management
- Trained junior team members on best practices in sourcing and supplier management processes.
- Reduced company expenses through the identification and elimination of redundant or low-performing suppliers.
- Negotiated pricing and terms with vendors to secure best value for company.
- Developed a materials cost reduction pipeline worth +$3M of annualized savings (4%)
Senior Director of Strategic Sourcing
STERIS Plc
07.2004 - 06.2025
- Analyzed market trends to inform strategic planning and ensure alignment with corporate goals via the Policy Deployment process
- Established performance metrics to evaluate department effectiveness and drive continuous improvement efforts including Quality, Delivery, and Cost
- Collaborated with stakeholders to identify opportunities for cost reduction while maintaining quality standard in a highly-regulated environment.
- Provided Core Team support of over 10 New Product Development (NPD) projects on an annual basis, resulting in significant organic growth and increased market share.
- Cultivated a culture of innovation by promoting creative thinking and encouraging employees to take calculated risks in pursuit of solutions.
- Developed strong relationships with key industry partners, fostering collaboration and mutual growth opportunities.
- Fostered work culture of collaboration and inclusion to increase morale and reduce turnover.
- Managed risk effectively by identifying potential threats, developing contingency plans, and implementing mitigation strategies in line with overall business objectives.
- Established data-driven decision-making processes and implemented best practices in analytics to optimize performance across the organization.
- Increased employee satisfaction, providing regular coaching and feedback sessions including Annual and Quarterly Performance Reviews.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence within the organization via supplier kaizens and plant visits.
- Facilitated seamless business transitions during mergers or acquisitions, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations while integrating teams effectively.
- Navigated complex regulatory environments to ensure compliance with local laws, standards, and regulations relevant to the business domain.
- Implemented cost-saving measures through effective resource allocation and budget management, resulting in material cost and subsequent product margin improvement.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements through the implementation of Sourcing Dashboards in Tableau
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability worth +$1M annually
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention, resulting in a seasoned team with broad sourcing knowledge.
Senior Sourcing Manager
General Electric Company - Consumer Products Division
06.2000 - 06.2004
- Led supplier negotiation strategies to optimize cost savings and improve supply chain efficiency, resulting in annualized cost savings of +$2M
- Led the development of a Deflation Tracker to monitor material cost improvement performance.
- Developed and implemented sourcing strategies aligned with product development timelines and market demands.
- Drove continuous improvement initiatives in sourcing operations, enhancing overall performance and supplier relationships.
- Established long-term partnerships with key suppliers, fostering trust and collaboration within the supply chain ecosystem
- Enhanced vendor performance with thorough evaluations, consistent communication, and regular feedback sessions.
- Developed and implemented innovative sourcing strategies for high-quality materials at competitive prices.
- Negotiated favorable contract terms for cost savings and improved supplier relationships.
- Calculated and reported actual and projected sourcing savings by spend categories.
- Managed and developed relationships with suppliers to attain maximum cost efficiency and leverage buying power.
United States Army Officer (Captain), Armor Branch
United States Army
06.1995 - 06.2000
- M1A2 Abrams Tank Platoon Leader, M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Platoon Leader, Battalion Support Platoon Leader, Battalion S-4 (Logistics Officer)
- Decorated for leadership and operational excellence in the field during training exercises and deployments to the National Training Center
- Winner of the Draper Leadership Award as the top graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course
Education
Bachelor of Science - International And Strategic History
United States Miliary Academy
West Point, NY06-1995
Skills
- Supplier relationship management
- Vendor evaluation
- Negotiation expertise
- Supply chain optimization
- Strategic sourcing
- Global procurement
- Risk mitigation
- Category management
- Cost reduction strategies
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
Accomplishments
- Supervised global teams of 8-10 Strategic Sourcing Specialists, Category Managers, and Supply Chain Analysts in North America, EMEA, and APAC regions
- Managed complex global spend of +$550M Direct Materials and +$250M Indirect/Expense Materials, including Metals, Metallic and Non-Metallic Fabrications, PCBAs. Controls, WIre Harnesses, Valves and Fittings, Formed Plastics, and Chemicals
- Managed Asia Sourcing Office based in Shanghai, PRC comprised of three Sourcing Specialists and a Sourcing Manager
- Led and executed insourcing and outsourcing initiatives to drive productivity
- Implemented KPI tracking across SQDIP metrics
Timeline
Director of Sourcing
Avon Technologies Plc - Team Wendy
06.2025 - Current
Senior Director of Strategic Sourcing
STERIS Plc
07.2004 - 06.2025
Senior Sourcing Manager
General Electric Company - Consumer Products Division
06.2000 - 06.2004
United States Army Officer (Captain), Armor Branch
United States Army
06.1995 - 06.2000
Bachelor of Science - International And Strategic History
United States Miliary Academy
STERIS High Performer
Regularly rated as Exceeds Expectations by Rater and Senior Rater
Reported on KPI Performance to Senior Managment Team, including CEO and President, CFO, CIO, and Division VIce-Presidents
Represented Supply Chain in the Operations Network Optimization project with strategic partner, McKinsey and Company
Supported numerous Merger and Acquisition integration projects, resulting in Company revenue growth exceeding $6B by 2025