Luc Volatier (left) has temporarily left the Dutch baby food maker Numico and become one of only two "executives in residence" at the leading European business school IMD in Switzerland.
He started a one-year sabbatical at the Lausanne-based school last month, where he is teaching on its MBA and company programmes and conducting research in conjunction with IMD professors and regular CPO Agenda contributors Corey Billington, Carlos Cordon and Tom Vollmann.
Volatier told CPO Agenda that his move to IMD had been suggested by Numico’s CEO, Jan Bennink, before Christmas. As part of his employment contract, Volatier was already teaching at both IMD and the French business school Insead for 15 days a year.
"I feel very privileged to be able to spend time thinking, reading, researching and writing away from the pressure of quarterly results," he said. "IMD is an outstanding environment with professors who’ve worked at the best business schools in the world and who have a great network of CEOs and other business leaders."
Volatier added that he intended to share key learnings with colleagues back at Numico, not only in purchasing but also in the company’s sales operation. The main focus of his research will be the "glue" that makes buyer-supplier relationships work.
"I will use my knowledge and experience to try to crack this nut," he said.
Volatier plans to return to Numico at the beginning of 2008, though not as CPO. His job as vice-president, purchasing worldwide, has been filled by Jacqueline Hoogerbrugge, who was previously a purchasing director at Unilever.
