NEWS BRIEFS

Supply Management, Jul 31, 2008

* BARCLAYS APPOINTS CPO FOR NEXT PHASE

Barclays has appointed David Moon as its new CPO.

Moon, who was previously in charge of purchasing at financial services firm ABN AMRO, took up his role last week. He replaces Jon Kirby, who joined AstraZeneca as CPO in January.

* STEEL MAKER TO TRAIN LOCAL LABOUR FORCES

Steel producer ArcelorMittal plans to work with local communities in its supply chain to train labour forces.

The initiative forms part of its 2008 Supply Chain Responsibility Programme and will target some of the "highest risk" areas in its supply base to encourage best practice.

Vendors in countries such as Brazil and Kazakhstan will be trained on issues such as health and safety to ensure standards are maintained.

* TRAVEL FREEZE AS FIRMS 'BATTEN DOWN HATCHES'

Over three quarters of companies in a recent poll plan to limit non-essential business travel to cut costs.

According to a survey of 175 travel purchasers by the Institute of Travel Management, 80 per cent said their companies were taking action to "batten down the hatches" in tight economic conditions, as "spiralling" energy prices affected travel costs. In addition, 20 per cent said their company would not rule out a total short-term freeze on travel.

* MOD IN SUPPORT OF COLLABORATIVE CHAINS

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has thrown its weight behind a programme to improve UK defence and aerospace supply chains.

The public-sector body has signed up to the Twenty-First Century Supply Chains (SC21) programme, developed by the Society of British Aerospace Companies to promote more collaborative working between buyers and vendors and make supply chains in the sector more competitive.