Käthe Downs is Senior Sourcing Manager, Marketing & Sales at Lindt & Sprüngli, with responsibility across North America supporting Lindt USA, Ghirardelli, and Russell Stover. With 20+ years spanning agency leadership, global sourcing, and vendor strategy, she brings a perspective shaped by working on both sides of the table. She is particularly interested in how procurement is evolving beyond traditional sourcing through AI, better data, smarter commercial models, and more strategic supplier relationships. Her approach is straightforward: understand the business first, challenge where it adds value, and make procurement an optimum partner. Her career includes experience with Apple, J. Walter Thompson, GoilnKetchum, and Oracle, managing hundreds of millions in spend across marketing, media, creative, experiential, and technology.