GRADUATION YEAR: 2017
POSITION: Senior Buyer
COMPANY: RB
EXPATRIATION DURATION: 4 years

INTERVIEW:

Hello Andrew! To start off, please give us a quick introduction.
Hi, my name is Andrew Mills. I graduated in 2017. I’m currently a Senior Buyer at RB in Melbourne, Australia.

What is your job? What are your tasks?
I manage procurement for our two Infant Nutrition plants in Australia, covering both production spend portfolios and NPS. My role includes day-to-day procurement operations, driving the implementation of new innovative products, cost-saving initiatives, and productivity projects, with a strong focus on service, quality, and supplier development. I act as the link between our suppliers and our plants. Overall, I enjoy helping shape the future of our facilities by applying “Best Practice” processes from across RB here in Australia. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities.

Tell us about your time at KEDGE. What did you study?
I completed the MAI program—Master of Science in International Purchasing and Innovation Management—with Gordon Crichton. I studied at the Bordeaux campus in a fully English-taught program. It was a fantastic year, and I learned a lot about procurement.

Why did you decide to come to France? And why KEDGE?
I came to France because of my partner. I met her there, and she convinced me to join her and start a life together in France.

KEDGE is a well-known business school in Europe, with a strong reputation—especially the MAI program. I realized that if you want a successful career in Europe, you need to attend a top business school. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

How did KEDGE help you develop and reach your goals?
What makes the MAI program so valuable is the people who teach it—they’re not just professors, but also business directors and managers. They share their experiences and are leaders in their fields. This gives students the chance to connect with them, ask questions, and learn from their mistakes. It offers a broader perspective on the professional world. It was incredibly inspiring and enriching!

How long have you been an expatriate?
I moved from New Zealand to play rugby in China for three months. Then I spent two years in France—first studying at IAE Bordeaux for my M1, then at KEDGE for my M2 in the MAI program. After that, I joined RB as an intern in Poland, then transferred to Amsterdam for six months in a new role. Afterward, I moved to Thailand to work for IFCN (formerly Mead Johnson), a new acquisition by RB in the infant formula sector, for ten months. I just moved to Melbourne last week, still with RB.

Why did you decide to move to Melbourne?
Half of the decision was for the job, and the other half was because Melbourne is one of the most livable cities in the world—dynamic and vibrant. I think it’s a great place to start a family. With my partner being French and me from New Zealand, we needed a place where we could build a family culture together.

What are your future plans?
I plan to stay here for the next five years with RB in Procurement, developing our new facilities. After that, I’d like to return to Europe—possibly to the Netherlands or Switzerland—to raise my family there.

Is there another country you would have liked to live in, and why?
I’d say the Netherlands. It’s a wonderful country with an open culture and a high standard of living. It’s clean, has a great lifestyle, and is ideal for both family life and career development. It’s also a global leader in sustainability.

What advice would you give to a student or recent graduate considering a similar path?
There are two key points. First, think about your added value—what makes you unique. That’s very important. When applying abroad, you need to develop your “X factor” and find what you love doing.

Coming from France, with its rich culture, you have a great opportunity to work abroad. There’s so much to learn from other countries, and so much they can learn from you. Find your passions and build a career that aligns with them.

Second, be open to different cultures. Don’t compare everything to France—every country is different. Embrace it, learn from it. That’s what being an expatriate is all about!

Interview conducted in Brisbane by Emma and Manon, students from the KEDGE Alumni Travel pro-act.

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