Title: Human Pharma Regions Office
Employers: Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH/ Corp. Human Pharma

Working environment

In April 2017 I worked with Olaf van der Linden on an international vendor selection and procurement activity for a strategy project. The required vendor capabilities were beyond standards and included specific qualifications and expertise in developing countries.
Olaf was responsible for managing the pitch, the cross-functional vendor evaluation process and the negotiation of the commercial terms and conditions. In this project Olaf and the team were challenged with tight timelines and cross-functional stakeholders’ expectations. Olaf did an excellent job ensuring that the quality standards and timelines were met. He introduced new tools to support a structured, cross-functional vendor evaluation. Olaf led the team through an efficient, transparent and consistent project management style. At the same time, Olaf showed a great deal of flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing conditions. The project team benefitted from Olaf’s anticipatory project steering, his open and respectful communication style as well as his goal-oriented working approach. In negotiation situations, I experienced Olaf as strong and determined negotiator, acting in a pleasant and constructive manner. The project was successfully finalized and met our pre-defined expectations to the full extend. It was not only a great pleasure to work with Olaf, but also a highly productive and successful cooperation. This reference has been written upon Olaf’s request. I wish Olaf much success for his future projects and upcoming professional endeavors.