JLL names Kennedy Oates Chief Procurement Officer

CHICAGO, September 29, 2020 – Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated announced today the appointment of Kennedy Oates to the global role of Chief Procurement Officer.

Effective immediately, he is responsible for the company’s global Sourcing & Procurement capability. In this role, he will manage a multi-billion dollar spend for JLL’s facility, project and property management clients, as well as JLL’s own corporate spend, across an extensive network of local, regional and global suppliers.

Oates is based in the Houston, Texas area and reports into the office of JLL Corporate Solutions CEO Neil Murray.

“Supplier partnerships have always been crucial to how we serve our clients, and to ensuring we and our partners operate safely and effectively,” said Murray. “The impact of the global pandemic has underscored the importance of these relationships. Kennedy’s deep expertise and global leadership experience will help us further advance our strong Sourcing & Procurement capability as we continue to deliver value to our clients, our firm and our shareholders.”

Oates brings to the role more than 28 years of global supply chain experience. Previously, he led global procurement for Hertz Global. Prior to that, he spent more than 25 years in various leadership roles, including leading global sourcing for GE Corporate and major GE business lines, while living in the U.S., Italy and Hungary.

A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt & Black Belt, Oates holds a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University, and a master’s degree from Webster University.

“I am thrilled to be joining JLL at a time of transformative change in the real estate industry,” said Oates. “It’s exciting to be part of a firm that has such a bold vision for the future, talented team and strong global platform. I look forward to helping JLL and its clients deliver on a re-imagined future.”