Microsoft CPO and Windows Live CFO to Keynote at SIG Global Leadership Summit

San Francisco, CA. (September 1, 2011) Sourcing Interests Group (SIG), the premier membership organization for sourcing and outsourcing executives, is holding their Global Leadership Summit (www.sig.org/summit) in Seattle, WA, October 17-20. SIG has packed the schedule with more than 35 breakout sessions, four executive roundtables, five workshops and three general sessions highlighted by a fireside chat on how to turn competing agendas into shared goals between Tim McBride, Microsoft CPO and Tami Reller, CVP & CFO, Microsoft Windows and Windows Live.

Over the last several years we've seen how critical sourcing and procurement are to companies' ability to control costs and achieve bottom-line profitability, said SIG CEO and President Dawn Evans. Alignment between the Procurement and Finance offices are more critical than ever before. Having these two dynamic leaders speak at our event together showcases just how important this issue has become.

The Summit brings together executives from Fortune 1000 and Global 1000 companies to network and discuss issues and best practices in sourcing, procurement, outsourcing, offshoring, and nearshoring. It will commence October 17 with the HfS 25 Sourcing Executive Council, an elite group of buy-side sourcing leaders invited to work together collaboratively in a way that influences the direction of the sourcing industry. On Tuesday, October 18, SIG will host its third Executive Roundtable series for executives in sourcing, procurement, outsourcing, finance, IT and for the first time, Legal, where C-level executives or their direct reports are invited to openly brainstorm, share best practices and learn from their peers in facilitated discussions on relevant topics.

The Summit's breakout sessions and advanced sourcing workshops (www.sig.org/breakouts) are presented by globally-recognized companies and cover topics that include creating a competitive supply management program, innovation in outsourcing, and creating sustainable results to achieve procurement transformation. In addition to the Fireside Chat, Microsoft's Tami Reller will also provide a CFO's perspective on how the sourcing and outsourcing function can help a company achieve its goals and objectives. Other General Sessions include University of Tennessee's Kate Vitasek who will speak on her book Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules That Will Transform Outsourcing, and a lunch session which looks at different regions around the globe and what makes them ideal locations for outsourcing.

About Sourcing Interests Group

Sourcing Interests Group (SIG), www.sig.org, is a membership organization that has served sourcing and outsourcing professionals from Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies throughout its 20-year history. SIG is unique in that it blends practitioners, service providers and advisory firms in a non-commercial environment. Members of all types are focused on improving bottom-line performance, quality and customer service through strategic sourcing/procurement and outsourcing initiatives. SIG is acknowledged by many as a world leader in providing an ongoing forum for networking and sharing thought leadership, innovation and next practices.