Milena Cerdas

An expert in the intricacies of global category management, Milena Cerdas shows unwavering dedication to innovation and adaptability. She worked in the manufacturing industry as a quality manager before seeking a more business- and people-oriented role in procurement. Today, she serves as global category manager for contingent workforce at Philip Morris International.

When she joined Philip Morris’ global procurement over a year ago, Cerdas found an opportunity to elevate the global CW program ownership and adaptability and to introduce a technology solution to manage workers effectively. She started by building and leading a CW cross-functional team and immediately proposed a business case for a VMS implementation alongside other cost-saving initiatives, stressing the importance of taking a phased approach to implementation to avoid overwhelming the organization. This persistence paid off: The company secured the budget, went through the RFP process, selected a suitable VMS solution and is currently in the implementation phase.

The future holds new challenges, including an increased focus within contingent workforce management on flexibility and specialized talent acquisition. With the prevalence of remote work, hiring managers are seeking specialized talent from across borders, so Cerdas is focused on facilitating seamless engagement with various types of talent, looking beyond location or engagement model. Currently, she is working largely with operations and manufacturing roles with a key focus on risk management and people sustainability. She is adapting the program to meet these trends, emphasizing the need to gain visibility into the diverse workforce, the need for a dedicated COE team ensuring proper management, and preventing potential misclassification issues.