Winners 2023

Purchasing 2023

WANG WAS ELEVATED last year to this key position with an annual budget of £231 million, managing a team of eight buyers in China focused on EV propulsion. Prior to this, Wang oversaw procurement for engines in China but “faced huge challenges” in her new job, according to her nomination, including supply chain disruption and the requirement to source a range of commodities in massive quantities from 21 new suppliers. Her achievement means that 90% of all future JLR battery-electric propulsion commodities by value are sourced from new relationships in China that Wang has personally nurtured. Within JLR procurement, Wang has won the 2022 Customer Love award and the division’s “ultimate” Platinum Award. “Tina has rated outstanding across her last four years at JLR. She is the rising star,” wrote electric drive unit purchasing manager John Horgan.

Purchasing 2023 nominees

Elçin Aleixo Calado, Senior SQD engineer, McLaren Automotive

CALADO HAS MOVED country twice to advance her career in engineering and is now in a key position at McLaren, where she works with suppliers to ensure quality on a new ultra-light material. Her trajectory began in Turkey, working for suppliers such as Delphi and Autoliv, before she moved to Portugal with Faurecia, designing the Volkswagen Sharan rear seat production line. She switched to McLaren in 2020, liaising between engineering and the supply base to assess quality.

Carys Wilcox, Senior SQD engineer – propulsion, McLaren Automotive

WILCOX’S RECENT PROMOTION within propulsion systems means she now manages a wide range of suppliers to the sports car maker, with the focus on maintaining the quality of metallic and welded components. She joined the company in 2016 and is currently finishing her engineering degree through the Open University. Despite still being at an early stage in her career, Wilcox has won two promotions and is well regarded for “developing strong relationships both internally and with her supply base”, according to her nomination.

Deisi Machado, Supplier quality and development manager – propulsion, McLaren Automotive

MACHADO MANAGES A team of 10 who are responsible for supplier quality in the areas of engine, transmission and systems at McLaren. She began her career in 2006 as an engineering trainee in her native Brazil, rising to the position of project manager for powertrain at Fiat Chrysler. She moved to the UK to take up a job at JLR in 2017 before switching to the Advanced Propulsion Centre in 2021 and on to her current job in March last year.