Vice President, Corporate Strategic Sourcing, Illinois Tool Works
ChrisDuchene is a successful business leader with over 20 years of experience managing supply chain/sourcing efforts for diverse companies and industries. Currently, Chris is the Corporate Vice President for ITW’s Strategic Sourcing Group. He is a seasoned professional who is confident in his skills, technically savvy, analytical and metrics driven. He is an effective communicator and knows how to build relationships with business leaders. He has a strong understanding of purchasing and sourcing disciplines, how they tie to business functions and how it can add value in organizations.
Chris has spent the past 10 years at Illinois Tool Works starting leading the Global Strategic Sourcing Group across ITW’s highly decentralized organization (over 850 business Units, 2000 locations world-wide). His areas of responsibility range across multiple commodities such as transportation/logistics, utilities, chemicals, resins/plastics, global travel program, IT hardware/software, packaging….. These categories represent over $1.8 billion in contracted annual spend with over 200 key partners across the various ITW Business Units. Throughout the years, Chris has gained an understanding of how to navigate and influence change in ITW’s complicated culture and work environment. He has always maintained the tenacity and passion to continue to look for new ways of doing things and where the Sourcing Group can drive value.
Chris also completed his MBA in 2007 from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University and also holds an Accounting and Economics Undergraduate Degree from Eastern Illinois University.
Prior to joining ITW in 2001, Chris spent 8 years as a Supply Chain/Sourcing Consultant across numerous companies, driving operational improvements and bottom-line cost reductions. He consulted for various clients in the supply chain and procurement arena. During this time, he was exposed to different working cultures and honed his selling and influencing skills.
Chris currently resides in Lake Villa, Illinois with his wife of 15 years (Kim) and two children (Lauren and Tyler, ages 12 and 9).
Chris is also an active member of his church, Willow Creek, providing insight and expertise/advice regarding managing supply chain and purchasing knowhow in supporting the church’s needs across the globe.
