Ms Thandokazi Msimang is the current Head of Procurement for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. The company has three global businesses that research, develop and manufacture innovative pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare products. Their aim to bring differentiated, high-quality and needed healthcare products to as many people as possible, with their three global businesses, scientific and technical know-how and talented people.
Ms. Msimang has close to 20 years’ procurement work experience gained through working in the government sector, automotive and pharmaceutical sector. Within GSK she works with business partners of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Transformation and Contract Management to set and monitor improvement programs for the suppliers’ terms of quality, cost, innovation and delivery.
Ms. Msimang also works with Category Management teams to increase usage of diverse suppliers by evaluating diverse supplier capabilities with respect to expertise, industry, capacity, quality, operating model, financial stability, strategic positioning in the market, etc. She holds a B Tech Degree in Public Management, a National Diploma in Sourcing& Supply Chain Management, and a National Diploma in Public Management.
Said Ms. Msimang, “To be yourself in a world constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. The SASDC is very much aligned to my own professional and personal values / beliefs, I relate mostly with ensuring that we are constantly looking for opportunities for supplier development. And also influencing business stakeholders to push the agenda of fairness by always reviewing and finding opportunities, to maximize our Preferential Procurement score by ensuring that we work with transformed vendors that are capable to provide the same level of services that would have been provided by existing non-compliant suppliers.
“The work done by SASDC is very critical as it addresses the socio-economic inequalities for marginalized black owned businesses, it provides a platform and access for these businesses to be playing in the same league as big corporations they are competing against. Through SASDC these black owned businesses have opportunities to work with large corporates that in turn realize there is a potential to develop their businesses even further.”
