World's Best GBS 2024: Winner Spotlight & Interview

Robert is a curious and engaged business leader with a keen interest in emerging digital technologies such as machine learning & AI. He strongly believes sustainability, operational excellence, talent development, data and digitiztaion, and lifelong learning. He is an insightful leader with a strong finance background. Robert has more than 30 years of experience in various leadership positions at multinational organizations and a proven track record of driving successful business transformations in the life sciences industry. He actively supports diversity and enjoys engaging with teams across the globe and to empower people´s strengths. Robert believes that every leader needs to be consciously developmental, as there is always a better version of oneself. Away from work, he loves spending quality time with his family, cycling, running. and working out.

Natarajan is a high performing C-suite executive with a successful track record of over three decades in country and global roles, having worked for companies such as Unilever and Philip Morris in India, Singapore, UK and Switzerland. He brings cross-functional experiences spanning Finance, Treasury, Tax, Accounting, Operations, Supply Chain and Global Business Services. As an authentic leader, he establishes deep relationships across the organization and develops leaders and teams through coaching and modeling. 

Tom Bangemann has decades of experience in services delivery models, specifically with GBS, benchmarking, and KPI models, and today advises SSON Research & Analytics’ Data Development & Research. In his role, he advises on the strategic direction of SSON R&A's surveys, analyses, and reports, and assists with the interpretation of data for SSON R&A subscribers, providing unmatched insights to the international shared services and GBS community.

Tom previously worked for The Hackett Group for 19 years. He is a senior advisor with profound experience in delivery, sales, business development and international consulting and was named “HR Superstar” by HRO Magazine 5 times between 2005-2019. He acts as a mentor and SSON R&A Advisor to industry executives, and has mentored up to the level of CHRO of a US$ 1bn listed company.

Barbara is responsible for SSON Reserach & Analytics global content - including specialist reports - which cements SSON's position as the most trusted resource for practitioners from around the world. As the voice of SSON R&A, she ensures the content reflects current trends and opportunities to help SSO leaders continuously drive performance.

Turan is a dynamic global executive with advanced knowledge in general management acquired from experience in multinational, and highly competitive environments. His proven track record of identifying customer needs and strong entrepreneurial mindset have consistently enabled sustained business growth. He has more than 20 years of experience in building-up and running multinational operations and businesses across the global value chain and leading in a variety of functions, including Management Consultancy, Senior Project Leader, Managing Director, Chief Procurement Officer, Chief Financial Officer as well as Chief Executive Officer. Turan has broad professional expertise in domains such as insurance operations, IT and application management, global supply chain, manufacturing, corporate procurement, business development and M&A. In addition, he has extensive experience in global business services primarily in the areas of HR, Finance, IT and in-house Consulting, with field and project experience in Germany, India, USA, Denmark, Central-Eastern-Europe, Denmark, China, Vietnam and Thailand. With his strong leadership capabilities, Turan has vast experience leading personnel at all levels on a global scale and in matrix organizations. Turan takes a people-centric approach, with the emphasis placed on teamwork, fostering diversity and high performance as well as a focus on employee engagement in combination with inclusive meritocracy. Quote from current manager: “Great entrepreneur, strong track record and builds high performance teams.”