Bill Mertz
Chief Procurement Officer, Peraton
Bill Mertz is responsible for all aspects of the company’s procurement organization, including supply chain operations, strategic sourcing and subcontractor management. He also oversees the execution of Peraton’s procurement strategy of driving better efficiencies and reducing procurement complexity for the company, its partners and its customers.
Bringing nearly two decades of experience as a supply chain and procurement leader, Mertz joined Peraton in October 2023. In less than a year, he and his team transformed procurement’s culture by instituting key foundational competencies of accountability, proactive outreach and a focus on learning and development.
Why Watch
Mertz and his team made radical customer engagement, strong supply chain risk management and value-driven partner relationships the core of their procurement strategy.
Soon after joining, Mertz reorganized his team to boost customer engagement, brought in strategic leaders and focused on forecasting customer needs. He made supply chain risk management a core part of the procurement culture, making Peraton more resilient to threats and vulnerabilities. The company’s commitment to value-driven partnerships will keep growing, benefiting vendors and suppliers while improving technology and capabilities for Peraton’s government customers.
“Bill and his procurement function are a cornerstone of our growth strategy,” said Mike King, chief growth officer at Peraton. “The impact and benefit of the procurement function is normally apparent only in the absence of adequate procurement management. Bill’s innovative approach and relentless dedication have not only streamlined our supply chain but also driven substantial cost savings and efficiency improvements. Bill’s strategic vision and leadership in procurement have been instrumental in helping us navigate the complexities of the market and position ourselves for future success. We are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team.”