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How to Become a Great CPO: Lessons from Southeast Asiaโ€™s Procurement Leaders (Part 2)

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Kunjal Suri

Published On: 07/14/2025

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Procurement Leadership in Southeast Asia - Insights from CPO Thailand 2025

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The AI-Ethical Strategist: Matthew Quimba of Meralco

If Rai A. De Jesus gave us the playbook for strategic agility in procurement, then Matthew Quimba delivers the operating system for ethical, AI-powered leadership.

I first had the pleasure of meeting Matthew at PASIAWorld 2023โ€”before CPO Thailand, before the CPONext Southeast Asia Edition. Even then, I remember walking away from our conversation thinking:

โ€œHereโ€™s someone who doesnโ€™t just get procurementโ€”he gets whatโ€™s coming next.โ€

He was razor-sharp on the role of AI. Grounded in ethics. And above all, deeply human in how he thought about leadership.

When I met him again this year, his message had only become more powerful.

The New Model CPO: Matthew Quimba, Meralco

As the AVP, Head of Category Management for ICT and Head of Contracts Management for SCM at Meralco, Matthew operates in one of the most complex, high-stakes environments in Southeast Asia. Heโ€™s not just managing sourcingโ€”heโ€™s guiding enterprise-wide transformation at scale.

Matthew S. Quimba

But what makes Matthew stand out isnโ€™t just his title. Itโ€™s how he leadsโ€”with clarity, compassion, and conviction.

1. Tech-Forward, but Human-Led

Matthew isnโ€™t chasing AI hypeโ€”heโ€™s putting it to work where it matters:

  • Automating contracts and compliance
  • Generating RFPs and supplier screens
  • Running predictive spend analysis
  • Forecasting demand and market shifts

But heโ€™s never lost sight of the core truth:

โ€œAI can make procurement faster and smarter. But the CPO still needs to lead with judgment, with clarityโ€”and with people in mind.โ€

Itโ€™s this balanceโ€”between enablement and responsibilityโ€”that defines his leadership.\

2. Leading with Command and Compassion

I remember his take on leadership clearly from PASIAWorld:

โ€œProcurement is no longer a cost centerโ€”itโ€™s a trust center.โ€

He leads with both strategic command and emotional intelligenceโ€”setting direction, yes, but also mentoring his team, building trust, and creating space for growth. Itโ€™s rare to see a leader blend performance and people so seamlessly.

3. AI Ethics: Procurementโ€™s Next Big Responsibility

When most people talk about AI in procurement, they jump straight to automation. Matthew goes deeper.

Heโ€™s one of the few voices in the region talking honestly about:

  • Bias in generative models
  • Lack of transparency in AI-driven decisions
  • The need for human oversight
  • Training teams on responsible AI use

โ€œIf your AI canโ€™t explain its decisionsโ€”or worse, if it hallucinatesโ€”your procurement credibility is at risk.โ€

That insight has stayed with me.

4. Mastering the Southeast Asia Mosaic

Matthew understands that Southeast Asia isnโ€™t one unified marketโ€”itโ€™s a mosaic of policies, supply dynamics, and cultural expectations. He thrives in that complexity.

Whether itโ€™s:

  • Strengthening local supplier partnerships
  • Navigating regulatory nuances
  • Promoting sustainability in sourcing
  • Or building culturally attuned teams

He brings a regionally grounded mindset to everything he does.

โ€œYou canโ€™t template procurement across SEA. You need to localize the strategy, then scale it with precision.โ€

Lessons for Aspiring CPOs

What can the next generation of leaders take from Matthew Quimbaโ€™s playbook?

  • Adopt AI, but Anchor in Ethics
    Build transparency, governance, and human checks into your systems.
  • Balance Strength with Empathy
    Great leadership is not about controlโ€”itโ€™s about connection.
  • Customize for the Region
    SEA demands local fluency. Context matters.
  • Keep Learning, Keep Teaching
    Stay humble. Share knowledge. Lift your team as you rise.

Looking Ahead

From Rai A. De Jesusโ€™s strategic mindset to Matthew Quimbaโ€™s ethical AI stewardship, weโ€™re witnessing a new kind of procurement leadership take root in Southeast Asiaโ€”one thatโ€™s bold, digitally fluent, and deeply values-driven.

In Part 3, weโ€™ll spotlight a digital-native procurement leader scaling intelligent automation and Agentic AI in real time.

But until then, remember this:

Becoming a great CPO isnโ€™t about doing it all.
Itโ€™s about doing what mattersโ€”with clarity, courage, and character.

Want to see how Zycus supports modern CPOs with Agentic AI, guided intake, and ethical automation?
Request a Demo

Related Reads:

  1. Harnessing the Power of Multi-Agent Generative AI in Procurement Software: The Future of Intake Management Solutions
  2. Whitepaper: AI Agents in Source-to-Pay Orchestration: Top 8 Benefits
  3. Whitepaper: Autonomous Negotiation Agents: The Future of Procurement
  4. Agentic AI Orchestration: Coordinating Multi-Agent Systems for Future-Ready Procurement
  5. AI Agents in Procurement: A Comprehensive Guide
  6. How Agentic AI is Creating Autonomous Procurement Teams?
  7. The Invisible Revolution: How AI Agents-Integrated Procurement Systems Became Essential

The Hidden Cost of ERP Bundles: Why Procurement Needs More

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Kunjal Suri
Kunjal Suri is a talented writer with a passion for all things technology. She graduated with an MBA in Marketing from XIME Bangalore in 2020, where she honed her skills in crafting compelling content. Kunjalโ€™s love for technology and her ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and accessible manner make her articles a valuable resource for readers. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the industry, Kunjal provides insightful perspectives on the latest technological advancements. Her expertise and dedication to sharing her knowledge make her a valuable voice in the tech writing community.

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