Damon Smith

Damon Smith is a dedicated commercial and procurement professional with a strong focus on expanding procurement into a comprehensive service function to maximize benefits for business stakeholders.

His key skills include strategic relationship management with suppliers and customers, commercial and legal negotiations, contract management, operational business management, budget ownership, strategic procurement, people leadership, and regulatory compliance management.

Throughout his career, Damon has held various roles such as Service Delivery Management, Strategic Procurement, and Operational Business Ownership, where he showcased expertise in team leadership, large-scale commercial negotiations, seamless service delivery, and strategic relationship management across multiple industries.

Currently serving as the Commercial and Procurement Manager at Xero Ltd, Damon oversees commercial and contractual negotiations with global marketing, PR, events, and sales suppliers, demonstrating his commitment to partnering with the business for long-term success.

In his previous role as Metering Manager at Contact Energy, Damon managed all metering-related services critical for customer billing and revenue, leading responsibilities from operational management to strategic supplier relationship negotiations and management.

Damon's educational background includes a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from the New Zealand Institute of Management, as well as further studies in Management, Accounting, and Marketing at Victoria University of Wellington.

He has also been associated with organizations such as Contact Energy Ltd, AMN Co-operative, Advanced Metering Services Ltd, Phiten Performance Ltd, and New Zealand Post - International Business, holding various managerial and leadership positions.