Achilles was founded by Sturla Sand in Norway in 1990, when he launched a supplier pre-qualification service for the country’s oil and gas industry.
Since then, the company has grown into one of the world’s largest supplier management service providers, with customers from a diverse range of industry sectors. Its services too have grown to embrace evaluation, monitoring and risk management.
The current Chief Executive Officer, Colin Maund, appointed in 1993, set up the company’s operation in the United Kingdom, where Achilles has its headquarters.
Following the successful start-up of the Norwegian and UK operations new Group companies were started in Ireland, Spain and Sweden (1997), Venezuela (1999), Argentina (2000), and Portugal (2003). Our most recent geographical units are Hong Kong, Germany, Denmark, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Italy, Australia, Kazakhstan, and Slovakia; giving Achilles a truly global presence (2008).
Achilles today
Today, the company employs around 350 people in 23 countries, offering truly global sustainable procurement services, with local expertise. We have 28 established supplier management schemes, serving more than 550 of the world’s largest companies and around 32,000 registered suppliers.
We work in partnership not only with buyers and suppliers, but also with other organisations which offer expertise that is complementary to our own.
June 2008 HgCapital, the European sector-focused private equity investor, invests in Achilles Group Limited.
Achilles: a global organisation, with an international footprint, and sustainable procurement services that are delivered with a local focus. Trusted by procurement communities the world over for our neutral, collaborative and insightful approach, our principles are fast becoming the recognised standards in every sector we serve.