Dave Depickere

Dave Depickere's journey into procurement began with a complete career pivot. 

Until 2008, he ran his own legal practice as an independent lawyer, specialising in civil and commercial law.

The transition came through a chance encounter with KBC, Belgium's major banking group, which offered him a hybrid role combining legal advisory work with procurement responsibilities.

"I’d never even heard of procurement,” admits Dave, who now serves as Head of Procurement at Partena Professional. “I didn't even know what it was, but they convinced me.”

Finding his calling

After three months in a dual role, KBC asked Dave to choose between law and procurement. His choice was the latter and he hasn’t looked back. 

That brave decision ultimately led him to Partena Professional – a service provider with strong focus on entrepreneurship and personnel management – in May 2024. 

At Partena, Dave leads the procurement function with three key focus areas: cost efficiency, supply rationalisation and digital transformation. His responsibilities extend beyond traditional transactional purchasing to strategic business leadership.

"My role is to ensure procurement is not just about transactions, but is a real strategic driver for the business," explains Dave.

Elsewhere, through his own business, Malixe Consulting, he helps clients optimise procurement processes and improve efficiency.

Collaborative value creation

For Dave, the most satisfying aspect of his role lies in building meaningful supplier partnerships. 

He emphasises that, while cost control remains important, the real value comes from collaborative relationships.

“The most rewarding – the best thing about my job – is creating value through partnerships,” Dave continues. “Cost is, of course, important, but working with suppliers to co-develop solutions that benefit both sides is what really does it for me.”

He cites a recent fleet overhaul project as a prime example. By changing lease companies, Partena Professional achieved significant cost reductions while improving satisfaction across all interested stakeholders.

Navigating modern procurement challenges

Dave identifies change management as the primary challenge facing modern-day procurement leaders, particularly in organisations new to structured procurement functions. 

In fact, when he joined Partena Professional, some colleagues questioned the need for someone in his position. 

Dave recalls: “I could tell some colleagues were thinking, ‘what are you doing here? We can do this better. But now, they’re my biggest fans.

Beyond internal resistance, he faces the ongoing challenge of balancing cost control with innovation needs, while adapting to rapid technological advancement and global disruptions.

Referencing COVID-19, conflict across the globe and the rapid rise of AI, he notes: “So many big things have happened in the last five years – probably more than in the 20 years before that.”

Strategic thinking meets collaborative leadership

Dave credits his success to combining strategic vision with analytical rigour inherited from his legal background. His law degree provided strong analytical skills for fact-based decision making – rather than assumptions.

What’s more, Dave’s collaborative leadership style proves essential for managing complex organisational changes. He deliberately involves himself across multiple business domains, seeking synergies and partnership opportunities beyond traditional procurement boundaries.

"If you don't have the business with you, you can do whatever you want – it's not going to work," Dave concludes. 

"I'm naturally curious, which drives me to explore new tools and processes. When challenges arise, I'm focused on turning them into opportunities.”

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