Meet the people who keep the world’s beer supply flowing

Procurement—the process of finding, acquiring, and buying goods or services a company needs to operate—is an indispensable part of AB InBev’s supply chain. From building supplier relationships to negotiations to ensuring operational continuity, procurement professionals help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Expats.cz spoke with four members of AB InBev’s procurement team to explore how they support the company’s mission, to dream big and create a future with more cheers.

Before joining AB InBev, Artyom worked for the United Nations in Pakistan. His international upbringing and career abroad sparked an interest in international negotiations, which he later applied to procurement.

As a Category Manager for Secondary Packaging Europe at AB InBev, Artyom oversees the procurement of plastic, bottle caps, and labels across European operations. 

His team drives innovation in packaging, ensuring everything meets quality standards, is cost-effective, and is delivered on time.

A big part of Artyom’s role involves managing uncertainty—whether responding to supply chain disruptions or adapting to shifting market conditions. His proactive planning helps ensure business continuity.

While many on the team came to procurement from diverse educational backgrounds, he believes that strong negotiation skills are what set professionals apart.

Artyom appreciates the collaborative and fun atmosphere that comes with AB InBev’s culture. He enjoys unwinding with colleagues over a beer at the office’s weekly open bar.

Originally born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Artyom spends almost every weekend in the countryside. He likes connecting with nature in Czechia through rock climbing and spending time with his kids.

Getting beer from breweries in the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands to customers across Europe requires complex logistical coordination. As a Procurement Sustainability Manager, Transport Logistics, Lyudmila negotiates with dozens of transport companies to ensure timely and cost-effective deliveries.

Getting the beer to its destination—no matter the obstacles—is just one of her many responsibilities.

"During the last 10 years in my career with ABInbev, I’ve never had a day that looks the same,” says Lyudmila, who describes her role as a mix of risk management, strategic partnerships, internal communication, and analyzing transport companies’ performance.

“We attract and develop great people” is a company principle she values. Like many at her company, she supports the idea that curiosity can open more doors than traditional career pathways ever could.

Lyudmila’s passion and drive have brought her to many of AB InBev’s international offices. When she’s not managing logistics, she enjoys horseback riding and finding peace through her hobbies.

Making beer is as technological a process as it is manual. As the Technology Procurement Manager for Europe, Eizo ter Veer ensures that breweries have access to top-of-the-line software that helps monitor temperature and assist with inventory management. Procurement in this department involves everything from buying Wifi, software licenses, and printers to supporting sales and marketing with data initiatives and the right solutions.

Insight into the latest tech offerings is only one part of the job. He emphasizes that technology procurement involves strategic negotiation, resulting in long-term, financially viable solutions.

“You need to engage in good stakeholder management, adds Eizo, who speaks Dutch, English, and a little bit of German, French, and Czech. “Getting your stakeholders involved at the right point in the procurement process is key.”

His typical day involves interactions across disciplines: about 40 percent with his team, 30 percent with suppliers, and 30 percent with stakeholders. Supporting his three-person team is also important to him. Eizo believes in getting involved in as many projects as possible so he can lead by example and build a well-rounded group of procurement professionals.

He’s watched his team improve at negotiating and feels AB InBev truly supports growth opportunities within the company. 

“When you lease a building for people to work in, you feel responsible for creating a productive and welcoming environment at work,” Aleksandra, an avid yoga practitioner, explains. Her job involves the procurement of building services, ensuring employees always have a pleasant place to work.

As Procurement and Sustainability Category Manager for Europe, she oversees the electricity, security, cleaning, travel, audit, financial and legal consulting, and real estate leasing for AB InBev’s Western Europe offices. 

Aleksandra’s journey with AB InBev started 15 years ago after University, where she’s worked her way up through multiple roles, taking care of different challenges in Procurement, Finance, and other functions. Whether it involves ordering paper towels or negotiating travel arrangements, she knows balancing quality service with financial responsibility is all part of the job. 

“I have an opportunity to make a difference to the overall business by optimizing costs,” she adds. “When we can offer our stakeholders a better deal, we have created value for them.”