Ajay Punjabi

Operations Associate

Dubai, United Arab Emirates18 yrs experience

Key Highlights

  • 20 years of experience in strategic procurement.
  • Achieved average 15% cost reduction across multiple industries.
  • Recognized as a top procurement leader in the MENAT region.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Procurement and Supply Chain expert with extensive experience in Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals.

Contact

LinkedIn

Skills

Core Skills

Strategic ProcurementSupplier Relationship ManagementEnterprise Procurement TransformationStrategic Category ManagementSourcingGlobal Strategic SourcingSupplier Development StrategyEnd-to-end SourcingSupplier RationalizationSourcing & ProcurementManaging Outsourcing UnitsRaw Materials ManagementNew Product InnovationSourcing From Qualified SuppliersLeading Purchasing Team

Other Skills

Supplier SourcingLow Cost Country SourcingDeal SourcingProduct SourcingIT SourcingContract ManagementCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)Vendor ManagementStrategic NegotiationsProject ManagementManufacturing OperationsStrategic PartnershipsStrategic LeadershipContinuous ImprovementOperational Excellence

About

๐ŸŒŸ ๐’๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐ข๐œ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐œ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ & ๐’๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ | ๐‚๐ž๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐Ÿ๐ข๐ž๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐œ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ | ๐†๐ฅ๐จ๐›๐š๐ฅ ๐’๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ข๐ง๐  * With 20 years of experience, contributed to multimillion-dollar savings at an average of 15%+, operational excellence, and ethical procurement practices across ๐‡๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐œ๐š๐ซ๐ž, ๐๐ก๐š๐ซ๐ฆ๐š, ๐…๐Œ๐‚๐†, ๐Œ๐š๐ง๐ฎ๐Ÿ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐š๐ง๐ ๐‹๐ข๐Ÿ๐ž๐ฌ๐œ๐ข๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ฌ industries. * Recognized among the โ€œ๐“๐จ๐ฉ ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŽ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐œ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐‹๐ž๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐Œ๐„๐๐€ ๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง.โ€ ๐Ÿ”‘ ๐Š๐ž๐ฒ ๐€๐œ๐ก๐ข๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ & ๐„๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ž: โ€ข ๐‚๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐Ž๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Achieved average 15% meaningful cost reduction by applying out-of-the-box strategies and contract management across ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ญ ๐Œ๐š๐ง๐ฎ๐Ÿ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐…๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ž๐ ๐†๐จ๐จ๐๐ฌ, ๐…๐š๐œ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ, ๐๐š๐œ๐ค๐š๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐‘๐š๐ฐ ๐Œ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ, ๐š๐ง๐ ๐‚๐€๐๐ž๐ฑ. โ€ข ๐‚๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐Œ๐š๐ง๐š๐ ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ: Drove industry-leading cost reductions through effective category management in Healthcare, Pharma, FMCG, Lifesciences, and Manufacturing. โ€ข ๐„๐’๐† & ๐†๐ซ๐ž๐ž๐ง ๐’๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ข๐ง๐ : Led sustainable sourcing initiatives, increasing ESG-aligned procurement by 20%. โ€ข ๐’๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐ž๐ซ ๐‘๐ž๐ฅ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐Œ๐š๐ง๐š๐ ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ: Built a strong supplier network in India, China, Europe, US, Africa, and Southeast Asia. โ€ข ๐†๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ๐ง๐š๐ง๐œ๐ž & ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐š๐ง๐œ๐ž: Enhanced procurement frameworks to ensure compliance and drive efficiency. โ€ข ๐“๐ž๐š๐ฆ ๐‹๐ž๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ: Led high-performance teams, influencing stakeholders and driving collaboration. ๐ŸŒ ๐†๐ฅ๐จ๐›๐š๐ฅ ๐Œ๐š๐ซ๐ค๐ž๐ญ ๐„๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ž: โ€ข Managed sourcing from global markets with insights on regulations, market dynamics, and risk mitigation. โ€ข Tailored supplier partnerships to meet client and regulatory requirements. ๐Ÿ† ๐ˆ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐‹๐ž๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ: โ€ข "Source-to-Pay" expert in Healthcare, Pharma, FMCG, Lifesciences, Chemicals, and Manufacturing. โ€ข Advocate for ethical, sustainable procurement driving long-term value. โ€ข Technology-driven approach to streamline procurement. ๐Ÿ’ก ๐–๐ก๐ฒ ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ง๐ž๐œ๐ญ ๐–๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐Œ๐ž? With global experience to source from 60 countries and having travelled extensively to 11 countries, I help transform procurement functions into strategic value drivers. With a blend of vision, operational excellence, and ethical leadership, I deliver measurable results and navigate complex challenges. Let's connect to discuss how I can elevate your procurement function!

Experience

Aster dm healthcare

Deputy General Manager - Group Procurement

Aug 2025 โ€“ Present ยท 7 mos ยท Dubai, United Arab Emirates ยท On-site

  • Responsible for end-to-end Global Procurement of all indirect Goods and Services for entire GCC operations for entire Aster Retail Stores, Aster Clinics & Hospitals, Medcare Clinics and Medical Centres and Access Clinics.
  • Scope includes but does not limit to:
  • > Hard and Soft FM services
  • > Civil projects
  • > MEP
  • > IT (Hardware, Software & AMCs)
  • > Marketing, Admin, Corporate requirements
  • > Landscaping
  • > Catering
  • > Housekeeping
  • > Security services
  • > Fleet / Ambulances
  • > Laundry
  • > Valet Parking
  • > Uniforms/Linen
Supplier SourcingLow Cost Country SourcingDeal SourcingProduct SourcingIT SourcingContract Management+48

Purehealth / rafed

Associate Director - Procurement

Jan 2024 โ€“ Jun 2025 ยท 1 yr 5 mos ยท United Arab Emirates

  • Strategic Leadership
  • Enterprise Procurement Transformation
  • C-Suite & Board-Level Reporting
  • Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Change Management & Governance
  • ESG & Sustainable Procurement
  • Value Creation
  • Total Cost of Ownership Optimization
  • Strategic Category Management
  • Procurement Center of Excellence
  • Digital Procurement Strategy
  • Operational Excellence
  • P&L management
  • Operational Excellence
  • Strategic Supplier Collaboration
  • Risk Management & Mitigation
  • Global Supply Chain Optimization
  • Procurement Operating Model Design
  • Continuous Improvement (Lean/Six Sigma)
  • Leading end-to-end Sourcing and Procurement for all categories including Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Capex, Facilities Management, IT, Marketing spend.
  • Overseeing the acquisition of goods and services essential for the company's operations, ensuring cost-effectiveness, timeliness and quality.
  • My role involves handling end-to-end procurement value chain including strategic sourcing, contract negotiations, supplier relationship management, and leading a team to optimize procurement processes.
  • I negotiate contracts, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, driving efficiency and value across the supply chain.
Operational ExcellenceProject ManagementCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)Strategic PartnershipsPurchasingStrategic Negotiations+6

Rafed uae

Head of Procurement

Feb 2022 โ€“ Dec 2023 ยท 1 yr 10 mos ยท United Arab Emirates ยท On-site

  • Heading Procurement with key responsibilities inclined towards ensuring Sourcing, Purchasing, Supplier Relationship Management, Client Business partnering, Vendor Affairs and Business Analytics.
  • Led Strategic Sourcing team for entire Rafed group (a PureHealth subsidiary) comprising spend under management for PureHealth, SEHA Group of hospitals, Department of Health, Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Somerian, Tamouh, YAS, ADSCC, NRC, TMO, amongst others under ADQ's GPO (Group Purchasing Organization) initiative for sourcing and procurement of all Directs (Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Medical Equipment, Lab Reagents) and Indirects categories (Facilities Management, General Services, IT).
  • Developed and rolled out Contract Management SOPs, Procurement Policies, Sourcing SOPs, Tender Management SOPs amongst others.
Operational ExcellenceSupply Chain OptimizationStrategic ThinkingProject ManagementCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)Strategic Partnerships+15

International sos

Regional Sourcing Head

Nov 2017 โ€“ Feb 2022 ยท 4 yrs 3 mos ยท Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • Led global strategic sourcing from compliant & qualified sources from both low-cost sources (India, China, SEA, etc) and also from Regulated markets viz. US, UK, EU, etc. ranging from Pharmaceuticals to Medical consumables and devices for largescale public sector agencies (Government / Semi-government / Non-government) tender opportunities and also in-house clinics/hospitals.
  • Developed sourcing strategies and supplier development strategy along with alternative sources and build a robust and reliable supplier pipeline.
  • Steering digitalization agenda for the company for eSourcing platform.
  • Key emphasis on governance of contracts & sustainable procurement.
Operational ExcellenceSupply Chain OptimizationStrategic ThinkingProject ManagementSupply Chain ManagementStrategic Negotiations+12

Iffco group

Central Purchase

May 2017 โ€“ Oct 2017 ยท 5 mos ยท United Arab Emirates

  • Group-wide end-to-end sourcing of Indirects spend (Capex & Opex) viz. Housekeeping, IT, Infection Control, Instore branding, Sales Promotion Products including Precious Metals, Stationary & Office supplies, Staff accommodation supplies, Office furniture, Admin, MPS, Factory spares and supplies, Fabricated articles, Audit manpower recruitment, AMCs, etc.
  • Catapulted and rolled out supplier rationalization and integration programme.
Supply Chain OptimizationSupply Chain ManagementStrategic NegotiationsOrganization SkillsAnalytical SkillsVendor Management+4

Sealed air corporation

Head - Sourcing (SAARC)

Aug 2013 โ€“ Feb 2016 ยท 2 yrs 6 mos ยท Mumbai Area, India

  • Spearheaded end-to-end activities related to Sourcing & Procurement of Raws, Packing Materials, Indirects, in-house as well as managing outsourcing units for finished goods for the SAARC region.
Supply Chain OptimizationStrategic ThinkingProject ManagementSupply Chain ManagementStrategic NegotiationsOrganization Skills+9

Gsk consumer healthcare india

Sourcing Group Manager

Apr 2011 โ€“ Aug 2013 ยท 2 yrs 4 mos ยท Gurgaon, India

  • Managed Raw materials spend and handled contract manufacturing sites for OTC and Oral Care brands of GSK.
  • Key NPI (New Product Innovation) lead for Procurement for project manage from R&D till commercialization phase.
  • Responsible for delivery of budgeted benefits from procurement and sourcing related improvement initiative by partnering with production, quality and other interface functions.
Supply Chain OptimizationStrategic ThinkingProject ManagementStrategic NegotiationsOrganization SkillsAnalytical Skills+6

Missionpharma a/s

Procurement Manager (India)

Apr 2009 โ€“ Mar 2011 ยท 1 yr 11 mos ยท Ahmedabad Area, India

  • Supported the global team in sourcing from qualified and compliant suppliers from India/China/Europe for Pharmaceuticals, Medical Consumables, Hospital furniture and Devices.
  • Led Purchasing team from India.
Strategic ThinkingStrategic NegotiationsOrganization SkillsAnalytical SkillsManufacturing OperationsVendor Management+3

Torrent pharmaceuticals ltd

Assistant Manager - International Supply Chain

Jun 2006 โ€“ Mar 2009 ยท 2 yrs 9 mos ยท Ahmedabad Area, India

  • Demand/Supply planning for EU and ROW markets.
Organization SkillsAnalytical SkillsContinuous Improvement

Education

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai

Master of Business Administration - MBA

Jan 2004 โ€“ Jan 2006

Bharati Vidyapeeths College of Pharmacy Sector-3 CBD Navi Mumbai 400 615

Bachelor's of Pharmaceutical Sciences โ€” Pharmaceutical Sciences

Jan 1999 โ€“ Jan 2003

Stackforce found 100+ more professionals with Strategic Procurement & Supplier Relationship Management

Explore similar profiles based on matching skills and experience

PM

Praveen M

Assistant Manager Supply Chain Management

at JSW Steel

Bengaluru, India2 yrs 5 mos exp
Operations ResearchSupply Chain Management
PS

Prashant Sharma

Accumulated Expertise

at Career-Wide Experience

Delhi, India0 mo exp
ProcurementSupply Chain Management
Ashutosh Agrawal

Ashutosh Agrawal

Director

at Magpie Global Limited

Mumbai, India17 yrs 5 mos exp
Asset ManagementConsultingEntrepreneurshipFinance ManagementGlobal Distribution
Sruthi Govind

Sruthi Govind

Associate Manager -Procurement

at IFFCO Group

United Arab Emirates16 yrs 1 mo exp
Logistics ManagementProcurementSupply Chain Management
Puneet Kathuria

Puneet Kathuria

General Manager

at Encode, Inc.

Union, United States15 yrs 8 mos exp
Performance ManagementTechnology Recruitment
Swarnabha Saha

Swarnabha Saha

Senior Product Manager - Retail (Fashion & Lifestyle)

at Jio Platforms Limited (JPL)

Bengaluru, India8 yrs 6 mos exp
Data ProductsProduct DesignProduct ManagementProduct Strategy
Jagadeesh Ulaganathan

Jagadeesh Ulaganathan

Country Manager

at Resolux Group

Chennai, India15 yrs 8 mos exp
Global SourcingStrategic Negotiations
Hanston Rego

Hanston Rego

Project Manager

at Volvo Group

Bengaluru, India5 yrs 4 mos exp
Automotive ServiceCustomer ServiceManufacturingMechanical EngineeringProject Management