Sandra Acquaah

Straumann Group, a global leader in innovative oral care solutions, has been manufacturing dental implants and related technologies since its founding in Basel, Switzerland, in 1954. 

Over its 71-year history, the company has undergone significant transformation. Now, another transformation is taking place, led by Sandra Acquaah, Head of Procurement, NAM.

"I'm responsible for procurement for NAM -US, and Canada," Sandra explains. 

"I also oversee indirect and direct procurement if not managed globally. I partner closely with our global team for spends managed globally, ensuring local support.”

Sandra, who has worked in procurement for over a decade across industries including telecommunications, Aerospace and food distribution, calls this the most exciting role of her career. 

She was drawn to the oral care industry for its unique challenges and the opportunity to work alongside medical professionals.

Beyond industry complexities, Sandra is driving a procurement transformation in Straumann’s North America operations. Historically viewed as a back-office function, procurement is now being repositioned as a strategic business partner. 

"The transformation has been about changing procurement’s perception—from a transactional role to a trusted value driving function within the company," she says. 

"To achieve this, we needed to understand the business beyond procurement. It's not just about refining processes; it's about making them better and compliant while supporting company goals."

Sandra has aligned procurement strategies with business needs, enhancing visibility into company spending and supplier relationships. 

"We've shifted from tactical purchasing to a strategic function that helps departments rationalise their needs and optimise budgets," she adds. 

Supplier relationships have also evolved from transactional to strategic, ensuring partnerships align with Straumann’s growth. "We need suppliers who can scale with us," she states.

To further enhance procurement's role, Sandra has championed process simplification.

"Traditional procurement has bureaucracy that makes it a barrier rather than an enabler. Our goal has been to implement agile, efficient processes,” she explains. 

Her approach underscores that procurement is about more than cost savings—it’s about value creation, supply chain resiliency, quality, and risk management. Another key aspect of Sandra’s transformation strategy is managing risk through relationships. 

"Straumann is a premium brand. We will never sacrifice quality. At the same time, we operate in a heavily regulated industry where managing costs is crucial,” she says, adding that long-term supplier partnerships ensure both compliance and efficiency:

“Our approach is less about tough price negotiations and more about collaboration—refining shared processes to reduce costs and improve operations."

Technology and key partnerships have been instrumental in this transformation. Amazon Business has streamlined procurement by reducing reliance on P-Cards and improving visibility and controls around tail spend through powerful analytics.

 "Amazon Business has been impactful in managing tail spending and automating invoicing," Sandra explains. "It helps simplify our processes while offering savings and operational efficiencies."

Other critical partners include Adecco, the group’s MSP provider, which has helped streamline hiring processes, and Navan, a digital travel management company providing real-time spending visibility. Dun & Bradstreet and Integrity Next have enabled the group to track ESG metrics and de-risk supplier selection.

Looking ahead, Sandra has mapped out a five-year procurement strategy, with the first year focused on evaluation and growth: "We’re stepping back to assess the impact of our processes and our transformation journey so far, making adjustments where needed, and ensuring solid foundations for scaling into the future."

Sandra emphasises the importance of trust, both internally and externally.

"Getting people to trust us makes process adoption easier and stakeholder engagement more successful,” she says.

“A major focus is also on talent—developing my team and providing growth opportunities. Procurement is numbers-driven, but it's also about people. I want my team to share my passion and have the tools to succeed."

Sandra’s leadership has been pivotal in shifting Straumann’s procurement from a transactional function to a strategic business enabler. Reflecting on her career, Sandra considers this transformation her greatest achievement. 

"Moving procurement into a more influential role within Straumann has been my biggest accomplishment,” she says.

“It was a challenge to change mindsets, but seeing the tangible value procurement now drives is incredibly rewarding."

To read the full article in the magazine, click HERE.

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