Sarah Michaud

Director of Procurement and Real Estate @ Careem

About

Procurement leader with 12+ years driving strategic sourcing, digital transformation, and operational excellence across global FMCG (Henkel) and high-growth tech (Careem). Based in Dubai, with deep IMEA expertise and a track record of scaling procurement functions from the ground up. At Careem, I oversee $200M+ in annual spend, lead a distributed team of 35+ across five countries, and have delivered 15%+ in cost savings year-on-year; while building automation-first, end-to-end source-to-pay ecosystems. I also own the Real Estate portfolio, adding an operational dimension beyond traditional procurement. What sets me apart: I don't just manage spend; I build functions. From overhauling sourcing strategies to deploying procurement tech and developing high-performing teams, I bring a builder's mindset to every organization I join.

Country

United Arab Emirates

City

Dubai

Industry

Information Technology & Services

Skill

Strategic Thinking, Global Sourcing, Strategic Partnerships, Trusted Business Partner, Team Building, Real Estate Project Management, Strategic Procurement, IT Procurement, Digital Transformation, Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Procurement Transformation, Strategic Sourcing, International Business, Purchasing, Project Management, Audit, Financial Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Microsoft Office

Experience

Director of Procurement and Real Estate

Careem

2025-3 - Present · 1 yr 7 mos

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

- Lead procurement strategy for $200M+ global spend across technology, software, facilities, and professional services - Manage a distributed team of 35+ procurement/real estate professionals across 5 countries - Deliver 15%+ annual savings consistently through strategic sourcing and supplier consolidation - Drive automation-first transformation of the source-to-pay process, reducing cycle times and improving compliance - Oversee real estate operations across multiple markets, balancing cost efficiency with employee experience

Director of Procurement

Careem

2023-7 - 2025-3 · 1 yr 9 mos

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

- Scaled the procurement function and introduced structured category management across key spend areas - Built and mentored a high-performing team, improving retention and capability - Led vendor negotiations and contract frameworks that reduced risk and improved commercial terms

Associate Director - Procurement

Careem

2021-7 - 2023-7 · 2 yrs 1 mo

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Senior Procurement Manager - IT/Technology

Careem

2020-2 - 2021-7 · 1 yr 6 mos

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Regional Procurement Manager

Henkel

2018-5 - 2020-1 · 1 yr 9 mos

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

- Managed $50M+ annual spend across contract manufacturing and co-packing for IMEA - Covered four business units: Beauty Care, Adhesives, Laundry, and Home Care - Led supplier negotiations and performance management across a complex regional supply base

Regional Procurement Specialist

Henkel

2015-11 - 2018-4 · 2 yrs 6 mos

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

- Developed and executed category strategies for IT, Technology, Professional Services, and Facility Management across IMEA - Served as Regional Quality Manager (Audit) and regional purchasing process expert