Christopher Racinez
About Christopher Racinez
Christopher Racinez serves as the Senior Director of Supply Chain and Head of Direct Global Strategic Sourcing & Procurement at Kite Pharma. He has over 19 years of experience in procurement and strategic sourcing, having held key positions at notable companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Bristol Myers Squibb.
Work at Kite Pharma
Christopher Racinez serves as the Senior Director of Supply Chain at Kite Pharma, where he has held the position since 2021. In this role, he is responsible for leading the Direct Global Strategic Sourcing and Procurement team. His focus includes managing categories such as Viral Vector External Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), logistics, transportation, warehousing, Single-Use Technology (SUT) equipment, and analytical services and testing.
Previous Experience in Procurement
Prior to his current role, Racinez accumulated extensive experience in procurement across several prominent companies. He worked at Johnson & Johnson for 18 years in various supply chain and procurement roles from 1998 to 2016. He then served as the Associate Director of R&D Sourcing and Procurement at Merck from 2016 to 2018. Following that, he was the Director of Materials & Services Strategic Sourcing for Cell Therapy at Bristol Myers Squibb from 2018 to 2021.
Education and Expertise
Christopher Racinez holds an MBA with a dual concentration in Marketing and Supply Chain Management from Rutgers Business School, where he studied from 2003 to 2005. He also earned a Bachelor's degree with a double major in Economics and Psychology from Rutgers University–New Brunswick. Additionally, he studied Engineering and Pre-Law at The George Washington University. Racinez possesses multiple certifications, including ISM C.P.M., APICS CPIM, APICS CSCP, and is a Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt.
Professional Skills and Experience
With over 19 years of experience in procurement and external manufacturing, Racinez has developed expertise in various categories, including Direct Materials, Indirect Services, and R&D. His skill set encompasses strategic sourcing, procurement, external manufacturing, analytics, logistics, warehousing, distribution, planning, customer service, recruiting, and project management. He has both global and regional experience in these areas.
Leadership and Mentoring
Racinez has a strong commitment to talent development and has actively participated in Employee Resource Group leadership and mentoring initiatives. His involvement in these areas reflects his dedication to fostering growth and development within the professional community.