Carnival Corporation & plc today named Julia M. Brown to the newly created role of Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) overseeing strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management.

As part of this new role, Brown will work closely with the company’s nine brands and their support groups to strategically procure goods and services to further strengthen the company’s supplier relationships and leverage its global scale.

“We are excited to have Julia join us as part of our global management team and take on this new role that will be critical in helping us further leverage our scale, accelerating our drive to double-digit returns on invested capital,” said Arnold Donald, president & CEO for Carnival Corporation & plc.

“I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Julia through our mutual association with the Executive Leadership Council, and she not only has an exceptional track record of leading procurement at companies with massive global operations, but also has a highly strategic and collaborative approach that will help us partner more closely with our suppliers to exceed guest expectations and drive value for the business.” 

Carnival Corporation’s Chief Operations Officer Alan Buckelew added, “As we have become increasingly global, the role of coordinating our procurement and supply chains has become more and more complex. At the same time, our global sourcing function creates opportunities for us to improve guest experiences onboard our ships and collaborate across our brands to operate more efficiently. Julia brings a depth of leadership and experience that will help us capitalize on those opportunities, as we build on the success our teams have already achieved.”

Brown will report to Josh Leibowitz, chief strategy officer for Carnival Corporation, and will be based at the company’s headquarters in Miami. 

“Julia is a highly respected individual with a collaborative and engaging style that has earned her a strong reputation for being able to build and inspire global teams. She will be an incredible addition to our global leadership team, and we’re excited to see her positive impacts on our organization,” said Leibowitz.

“Our brands are increasingly working together to deepen relationships with our suppliers, so I look forward to working closely with Julia and our brand leaders to amplify those efforts, drive strategic sourcing partnerships and support our strategy to leverage our scale and exceed guest expectations.”

Brown most recently served as CPO on the global management teamat Mondelez International, which split from Kraft Foods in 2012. Prior to the split, Brown served as CPO and SVP of global procurement at Kraft Foods, responsible for the company’s $30 billion strategic sourcing function. Prior to Kraft, she served as CPO and VP of corporate procurement and contract manufacturing at Clorox. Brown began her career at Procter & Gamble and also served in strategic roles at Diageo and Gillette.  

Brown is on the board for the Executive Leadership Foundation and also serves as a trustee for the African American Experience Fund, which is part of The National Park Service. She also serves as a board member for the Primo Center in Chicago.

Brown has been named as one of the top 100 most “Influential Blacks in Corporate America” by Savoy Magazine, the top 100 Women to Watch by Today’s Chicago Woman and listed in Black Enterprise’s Top 75 Most Powerful Women in Business.  

She received a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.