The arrival of Hendou Keita-Bartolomäus not only marks a new addition to the LCL team but also introduces a new role within the company: that of Procurement Specialist. Following our achievement of the EcoVadis Gold Medal, sustainable procurement was identified as a focus area. At LCL, we are eager to step up and take action to improve in this area. Hendou has recently started focusing entirely on making our procurement processes more efficient and sustainable. She approaches her assignment in the typical Hendou manner: with positivity and enthusiasm!
Hendou has an impressive and diverse background, both personally and professionally. Born in Mali and after spending many years in Germany, she eventually settled in Belgium. Her career has also taken her through various sectors. Hendou shares, “I started my career in hospitality in Germany, where I signed my first contract at 17, while pursuing training at the same time. Later, I worked in several cities across Germany, mainly in front office for hotels.” Hendou, with her sociable nature, felt perfectly at home in the heart of a hotel.
Years later, after moving to Belgium, Hendou—through roles as an event manager at UITP and Credit Controller at Scansource—eventually entered the field of procurement: “I started in procurement at Huntsman, where I took on various roles from senior buyer to team manager,” Hendou explains. After ten years, she decided it was time for a new challenge, which led her to LCL.
A brand-new role at LCL
“When I heard about the job as a Procurement Specialist at LCL, the role immediately appealed to me, and three things instantly reinforced that good feeling: the location, the positive vibe during the interview, and the opportunity to approach procurement from a sustainable perspective,” Hendou says. This sustainable procurement perspective is new to Hendou, but it doesn’t daunt her: “My motto is ‘learning by doing,’ and it has always served me well in every job. My strengths lie in effective communication and a willingness to investigate issues thoroughly. Matching the right procedures to address problems gives me great satisfaction.”
Like LCL, Hendou views sustainable procurement as part of a bigger picture: “We should look beyond cost-saving, which is what you quickly get drilled into you in procurement, and consider how we can bring our suppliers along on our sustainable journey,” she says. Her approach is one of collaboration and education, hoping to guide suppliers step by step towards more sustainable practices, which fits perfectly with LCL.
LCL as a sustainable partner
In her first few weeks at LCL, Hendou has already built strong relationships with her colleagues and has dived into standardising and streamlining certain processes. “It’s wonderful to see how open everyone is to new ideas and how we can work together towards a greener future,” she shares enthusiastically. “My first challenge is to show my colleagues the added value of my role. Once they learn they can trust me with the commercial aspect, they can focus more on the core of their jobs. It’s then up to me to update and standardise the new sustainable procurement policy, create templates, add extra structure, and bring sustainability even more to the forefront.”
And for our clients? Hendou sees only benefits: “As we become more efficient and sustainable in our procurement policy at LCL, our clients will naturally notice this. We demonstrate that we don’t just choose our suppliers randomly but look at the bigger picture. This in turn positions us as a supplier with a positive image towards our clients’ clients. The entire chain is interconnected. One of the greatest assets a company can have is for a supplier to become a true partner,” and with that, Hendou aptly summarises what we aim to achieve at LCL.
A social sanctuary
Outside of work, Hendou is a proud mother of three and a passionate cook who loves bringing people together. She finds joy in preparing meals for her family and friends, often with ingredients from her own garden. “I enjoy having people and even noise at home. That social aspect is actually my moment of rest,” she says with a smile.
Even though the call of the world, where her family is spread across three continents, is strong, Hendou plans to stay here and at LCL for now. With her ambition, expertise, and the support of the team, she’s determined to elevate our sustainable procurement policy to a new level. Her vision is clear: “LCL is already known for its sustainable approach, and I want to ensure that we look not only at what we buy, but also how we buy it and the impact we have on the world.”
