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Gartner Expert
James Smith
Sr Director Analyst
James Smith is a Senior Director Advisor working with IT Leaders around Sourcing Procurement and Vendor Management (SPVM) related issues. These include:
- Sourcing and negotiation strategies (IT & Indirect Spends)
- Functional design
- Contract Lifecycle Management & Term Reviews
- Roles and responsibilities
- Stakeholder and category management
- Reporting and metrics
- Diversity Equity and Inclusion & Sustainability in sourcing and procurement initiatives
Mr. Smith held various positions in industry, covering all aspects of technology procurement and sourcing, while dabbling in marketing, finance and human resource areas as well. Prior to July of 2020, James had focused on procurement and licensing issues specific to two megavendors, leading the charge on thought provoking research around cloud technology acquisition and new adaptations those vendors are using to bring new products to market. Now, as an Advisor, he can use decades worth of experience to help redesign, redefine and improve your sourcing organization to ensure an optimal sourcing and procurement organization that enables your stakeholders to maximize their returns while minimizing the risks and expenses.
Previous experience
Mr. Smith is a highly accomplished leader in global procurement, sourcing, and risk mitigation, with a proven record of delivering transformative results for Fortune 500 organizations and industry innovators. He has driven over $50 million in cost savings and avoidance, managed end-to-end process development and complex negotiations for major clients including VMWare, Vantiv/WorldPay, Great American Insurance/American Financial Group, and the United States Air Force, and overseen $500 million in global indirect spend while maintaining a customer satisfaction rating of 4.85 out of 5.
Throughout his career, Mr. Smith has managed teams of up to 4 direct and 15–20 indirect contributors across global regions, ensuring seamless process integration and policy implementation. Prior to Gartner, he held pivotal procurement roles in consumer goods, financial services, payments processing, telecommunications, and software development, leading and optimizing sourcing teams and strategies. He is highly experienced in RFP management, contract negotiations, BPO initiatives, and executive-level reporting. Mr. Smith is a member of the Institute of Supplier Managers, served as Vice President of the ISM Denver Chapter, and is a recipient of the CBT Encore Spirit Award and Volunteer of the Year at the Colorado Railroad Museum.
Outside of work, Mr. Smith is deeply involved in Colorado’s history and community leadership. He served as President of the Board of Directors of the Colorado Railroad Museum—one of Jefferson County’s largest non-profits—throughout the pandemic, and sat on the City of Golden Historical Preservation Board. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change at Colorado State University. Drawing on his service in the United States Air Force, he remains engaged in matters of national security. Renowned for his strategic vision and hands-on leadership, Mr. Smith delivers organizational success in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
Professional background
Cincinnati Bell Telephone, Sr. Sourcing Manager - Director of Indirect Spends, 3 years
Vantiv Inc., Sr. Sourcing Manager - Outsourcing and Offshoring; Contingent Labor, 2 years
VMware, Lead Sourcing Manager - Data Center Equipment and Enterprise Software, 3 years
Areas of coverage
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IT Contracts Negotiations
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IT Vendor Portfolio Management
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IT Sourcing, Procurement and Vendor Management Operating Model
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IT Sourcing Strategy Development and Execution
Education
Graduate Program in Progress - Phd in Organizational Learning Performance and Change (OLPC), Colorado State University
Master of Business Administration, Miami University (OH)
Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems/Minor Aerospace Studies, Miami University (OH)
Top Issues That I Help Clients Address
Sourcing, procurement and vendor management - designing, building, rebuilding and revamping organizations
Transforming technology procurement to support business innovation
Initiating and managing procurement transformation programs, including agile procurement processes
Evaluating and negotiating software license agreements and SaaS contracts
Negotiation planning and strategies focusing on how to tailor the negotiations to be vendor-specific