KGM Strategy Office Cologne - "KGM Strategy in the fast lane"

KGM Strategy continues to grow – With the opening of our office in Cologne, we are bringing our procurement expertise to the Spanish market. In this interview, our Managing Director Manuel Berlanga talks about the first few months at the new location, as well as his motivation and strategic vision for the team.

Please briefly describe your professional background and how you came to KGM Strategy.

I have worked in procurement for most of my career, including nine years in consulting and twelve years as a manager in various industries. During this time, I continued to work as a consultant, as I believe that procurement is key to optimizing costs and driving innovation for many companies. During my time in industry, I particularly missed the excitement that comes with fast-moving projects, the dynamics of continuous change, and the exceptional quality of work that is typical of consultants.

Why did you choose KGM Strategy?

I firmly believe that we add value through implementation and restructuring, not just designing a strategy. We are a procurement consultancy at heart – this focus allows us to develop extensive knowledge in different industries and areas. KGM Strategy’s corporate culture was also an important factor in my decision – because we really care about our employees.

How would you like to take the Cologne office forward and what are the key stages in building a new location and team?

Our employees are our strongest asset, so we want to invest not only in their training as consultants, but also in their procurement knowledge. We firmly believe that early involvement in client projects is the best way to build a strong foundation. Making the most of the experience of our global teams is the key to success. The entire team in Cologne recognizes that it is crucial to engage with our experts, be it our knowledge management or our industry/category experts. We continuously strive to collaborate with these experienced colleagues to maximize the added value of our projects. Furthermore, we firmly believe that nurturing and promoting our company culture is a cornerstone to success. We take our company values very seriously and make sure that we live by them. Our relationship with BCG is also critical to success, which is why we focus heavily on deepening relationships. With positive results, the KGM Strategy office is becoming increasingly popular with BCG offices in the Iberian Peninsula and South America. This popularity is particularly evident in the increased number of inquiries from various countries, but our focus currently remains on the Iberian Peninsula.

What are the biggest challenges Spanish companies are currently facing?

The Spanish economy has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, although the recovery process has been longer than expected. Political instability is preventing companies and industries from taking significant steps until the situation has stabilized. As Spain continues to experience a recession, companies remain in cost-cutting mode. The Spanish economy is heavily dependent on tourism and construction, which makes it particularly vulnerable to global economic fluctuations. The opportunities for KGM Strategy are significant, as even the largest companies, including the IBEX 35 and other globally recognized firms, have underdeveloped processes. This situation continuously opens up new opportunities for us.

How do you like to spend your free time?

It’s very important to me to spend a lot of time with my family. It’s especially fun when we travel together. We love good food and have made it our mission to explore a new restaurant every week, especially those with international cuisine. In my free time, I like to go jogging, cycling or swimming. My latest passion is playing soccer with my son.