Vertiv Appoints Frieda He as Chief Procurement Officer to Enhance Supply Chain Resilience

Frieda He Joins Vertiv as Chief Procurement Officer

Dubai, UAE — Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, has announced the appointment of Frieda He as Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). In this role, she will oversee the company’s global procurement organization, focusing on enhancing supply chain resilience, optimizing costs, and driving supplier quality across its extensive portfolio, which includes power and thermal management solutions for data centers and commercial applications.

Frieda He brings nearly two decades of experience in global procurement and supply chain leadership, particularly in the automotive and electrification sectors. Most recently, she served as CPO at Polestar, where she managed over $3 billion in annual global spending and led cross-functional teams through various industry challenges, emphasizing cost management and supplier quality.

Gio Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv, expressed confidence in He’s capabilities, stating, “Frieda He is a proven global leader with deep experience building and scaling resilient, sustainable supply chains. Her expertise will be critical as Vertiv continues to scale to meet the accelerating demand from AI-driven and high-density digital infrastructure.”

Frieda He’s Extensive Background in Procurement

Prior to her tenure at Polestar, Frieda held several senior leadership roles at Volvo Cars, including vice president of global propulsion and sustainability procurement. There, she managed an annual spend exceeding $9 billion and played a pivotal role in the company’s transition towards electrification. Her extensive experience encompasses navigating supply chains through global disruptions and advancing sustainability initiatives.

Frieda’s career also includes procurement and supply chain roles across the Asia-Pacific region, where she developed a strong foundation in global sourcing, cost engineering, and supplier development. Her educational background includes bachelor’s degrees in general studies and business/commerce from Northeast Normal University in China, as well as an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford.

Strategic Importance of the Appointment

Frieda He’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Vertiv, as the demand for robust digital infrastructure continues to rise. The company, headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, operates in over 130 countries and aims to address the challenges faced by data centers and commercial facilities through its comprehensive portfolio of power, cooling, and IT infrastructure solutions.

Frieda expressed her enthusiasm for joining Vertiv, stating, “I’m excited to join Vertiv at such a transformative moment for the digital infrastructure industry. Vertiv’s role at the center of the global data center and critical infrastructure ecosystem presents a unique opportunity to create value through strong partnerships, operational excellence, and responsible, resilient supply chains.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Frieda He?

Frieda He is the newly appointed Chief Procurement Officer at Vertiv, with extensive experience in global procurement.

What are Frieda He’s key responsibilities at Vertiv?

She will lead the global procurement organization, focusing on supply chain resilience, cost optimization, and supplier quality.

What was Frieda He’s previous role?

She served as Chief Procurement Officer at Polestar, managing over $3 billion in annual global spend.

What is Vertiv’s main focus?

Vertiv specializes in critical digital infrastructure solutions for data centers, communication networks, and industrial applications.

How does Frieda He’s experience benefit Vertiv?

Her background in managing supply chains through disruptions and her expertise in sustainability will enhance Vertiv’s procurement capabilities.