Vivek Lilha: Creating Business Value Through Procurement Excellence
Vivek Lilha
Procurement Head
A Pro- curement Head is responsible not only for sourcing raw materials but also for anticipating market movements, securing reliable supply networks, optimizing inventory, managing commodity price volatility, and ensuring that production remains uni- nterrupted.
Every pro curement decision influences manufacturing costs, profitability, working capital, and ultimately the company's competitive advantage.
As supply chains become more complex and unpredic -table procurement leaders are increasingly expected to combine commercial acumen with market intelli -gence, strategic planning, and strong stakeholder relationships.
Vivek Lilha, Procurement Head at Regaal Resources, has built his career around these very principles. With a Bachelor's degree in Commerce, his entry into procurement was not part of a predefined career plan but the result of an opportunity that gradually evolved into a profession driven by experience and continuous learning.
Raised in a business family, Vivek gained early exposure to purchasing through his father's business.
Long before entering the corporate world he developed an understanding of commer-cial negotiations, vendor dealings, and the importance of making informed buying decisions.
This practical exposure intro- duced him to the fundamentals of procurement and sparked an interest in the discipline.
His professional journey began in 2006 when he joined a feed manufacturing company and entered the world of maize and agricultural raw material procurement.
The role demanded much more than purchasing - it required balancing inventory, controlling procurement costs, under- standing crop cycles, responding to market fluctuations, and protecting the business from volatile pricing.
Working closely with agricultural supply chains gave him valuable insights into how procurement decisions directly impact manufacturing efficiency and business performance.
These formative experiences laid the foundation for a career spanning nearly two decades.
Today, at Regaal Resources, Vivek Lilha combines deep market knowledge with strategic procurement practices to build resilient supply networks, optimize sourcing decisions, and create long-term value for the organization, demonstrating how procurement has become one of the most influential drivers of sustainable business growth.
Your career spans multiple industries and procurement environments. Which mile-stones have had the greatest influence on your leadership style and procurement expertise?
I began my career in the feed industry, but a major turning point came when I joined organizations like Edelweiss and NEFM. Working with large-scale operations exposed me to structured procurement systems, process design, and end-to-end procurement solutions.
While I already understood SOPs, these roles taught me how to create them, lead teams, and manage large procurement volumes efficiently.
Those experiences strengthened my leadership approach and helped me transition from an operational buyer to a strategic procurement professional capable of driving process excellence and organizational value.
How are you leveraging technology, supplier colla- boration, and data-driven decision-making to make procurement a strategic business function?
Technology has become central to our procurement strategy. We use platforms like Procol to conduct competitive bidding for logistics warehousing, transpor -tation financing and procurement, allowing us to compare suppliers based on price, quality, and capacity.
Alongside this, we continuously analyze historical procurement data and current market trends to improve forecasting and decision-making.
This data driven approach enables us to optimize costs, identify the best sourcing opportunities, and respond proactively to changing market conditions, making procurement a stronger contributor to business performance.
What is your approach to building resilient supplier relationships while main- taining quality, sustain- ability, and ethical sourcing standards?
I don't see vendors as suppliers alone - they are long term business partners. Strong procurement depends on trust, transparency, and mutual commitment.
Many of our suppliers have been associated with us since the company was established, and
Your career spans multiple industries and procurement environments. Which mile-stones have had the greatest influence on your leadership style and procurement expertise?
I began my career in the feed industry, but a major turning point came when I joined organizations like Edelweiss and NEFM. Working with large-scale operations exposed me to structured procurement systems, process design, and end-to-end procurement solutions.
While I already understood SOPs, these roles taught me how to create them, lead teams, and manage large procurement volumes efficiently.
Those experiences strengthened my leadership approach and helped me transition from an operational buyer to a strategic procurement professional capable of driving process excellence and organizational value.
I believe procurement professionals must continuously embrace technology to improve forecasting, strengthen risk management, and enhance operational efficiency
How are you leveraging technology, supplier colla- boration, and data-driven decision-making to make procurement a strategic business function?
Technology has become central to our procurement strategy. We use platforms like Procol to conduct competitive bidding for logistics warehousing, transpor -tation financing and procurement, allowing us to compare suppliers based on price, quality, and capacity.
Alongside this, we continuously analyze historical procurement data and current market trends to improve forecasting and decision-making.
This data driven approach enables us to optimize costs, identify the best sourcing opportunities, and respond proactively to changing market conditions, making procurement a stronger contributor to business performance.
What is your approach to building resilient supplier relationships while main- taining quality, sustain- ability, and ethical sourcing standards?
I don't see vendors as suppliers alone - they are long term business partners. Strong procurement depends on trust, transparency, and mutual commitment.
Many of our suppliers have been associated with us since the company was established, and
these long-standing relationships are built on timely deliveries, consistent quality, and prompt payments.
I don't see vendors as suppliers alone - they are longterm business partners. Strong procurement depends on trust, transparency, and mutual commitment.
Many of our suppliers have been associated with us since the company was established, and these long-standing relationships are built on timely deliveries, consistent quality, and prompt payments.
Even during volatile market conditions, we honor our commitments, and our partners do the same. This mutual trust creates a sustainable, ethical, and resilient supply network thatbenefits both our organization and our supplier ecosystem.
Which emerging procure- ment trends do you believe will shape the future, and how are you preparing your team for them?
Artificial Intelligence, automation, and data analytics are transforming procurement by enabling faster and more accurate decision-making.
Today, we can access real-time weather forecasts, crop updates, global market intelligence, and predictive insights instantly, allowing us to anticipate market movements more effectively than ever before.
I believe procurement professionals must continuously embrace technology to improve forecasting, strengthen risk management, and enhance operational efficiency.
We encourage our teams to stay updated, leverage digital tools, and make decisions backed by reliable data rather than assumptions.
What is your vision for the future of procurement leadership, and how do you aim to create sustainable value for your organization and the industry?
I believe procurement is no longer just about purchasing - it is a strategic function that drives business growth through cost optimization, supply continuity, innovation, and efficient resource management.
At Regaal Resources, we have introduced innovative sourcing models including direct farmer procurement, strategic supplier partnerships, and systematic planning.
Vivek Lilha, Procurement Head, Regaal Resources
Vivek Lilha is the Procurement Head at Regaal Resources, bringing nearly two decades of expertise in procurement and supply chain management.
Specializing in maize procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship manage- ment, and cost optimization, he has played a key role in strengthening procure- ment processes, driving operational efficiency, and supporting the company's sustained manu- facturing growth.
I don't see vendors as suppliers alone - they are longterm business partners. Strong procurement depends on trust, transparency, and mutual commitment.
Many of our suppliers have been associated with us since the company was established, and these long-standing relationships are built on timely deliveries, consistent quality, and prompt payments.
Even during volatile market conditions, we honor our commitments, and our partners do the same. This mutual trust creates a sustainable, ethical, and resilient supply network thatbenefits both our organization and our supplier ecosystem.
Which emerging procure- ment trends do you believe will shape the future, and how are you preparing your team for them?
Artificial Intelligence, automation, and data analytics are transforming procurement by enabling faster and more accurate decision-making.
Today, we can access real-time weather forecasts, crop updates, global market intelligence, and predictive insights instantly, allowing us to anticipate market movements more effectively than ever before.
I believe procurement professionals must continuously embrace technology to improve forecasting, strengthen risk management, and enhance operational efficiency.
We encourage our teams to stay updated, leverage digital tools, and make decisions backed by reliable data rather than assumptions.
What is your vision for the future of procurement leadership, and how do you aim to create sustainable value for your organization and the industry?
I believe procurement is no longer just about purchasing - it is a strategic function that drives business growth through cost optimization, supply continuity, innovation, and efficient resource management.
At Regaal Resources, we have introduced innovative sourcing models including direct farmer procurement, strategic supplier partnerships, and systematic planning.
Vivek Lilha, Procurement Head, Regaal Resources
Vivek Lilha is the Procurement Head at Regaal Resources, bringing nearly two decades of expertise in procurement and supply chain management.
Specializing in maize procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship manage- ment, and cost optimization, he has played a key role in strengthening procure- ment processes, driving operational efficiency, and supporting the company's sustained manu- facturing growth.