{"id":3047,"date":"2011-03-02T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2011-03-02T14:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/2011\/03\/02\/procurement-ethics-one-bad-apple-spoils-the-next-20-years-of-his-life\/"},"modified":"2021-07-10T19:51:53","modified_gmt":"2021-07-10T23:51:53","slug":"procurement-ethics-one-bad-apple-spoils-the-next-20-years-of-his-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/procurement-ethics-one-bad-apple-spoils-the-next-20-years-of-his-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Procurement Ethics: One Bad Apple Spoils…The Next 20 Years of His Life?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In August 2011, I reported that Paul Shin Devine<\/a>, a global supply manager for Apple, was due in court because he was \u201caccused of accepting more than $1 million in kickbacks from half a dozen Asian suppliers of iPhone and iPod accessories.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Reuters (with a hat-tip to Paul Salisbury, SPSM), Devine \u201cpleaded guilty on Monday to wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering,\u201d will forfeit \u201cabout $2.28 million in money and property,\u201d and \u201cfaces a maximum prison term of 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sentencing was scheduled for June 6, 2011.<\/p>\n

While his attorney characterized Devine\u2019s criminal behavior as \u201ca mistake,\u201d I would have to disagree. Strongly.<\/p>\n

A mistake would be something like a new purchasing employee accepting a branded pen from a supplier when the employee\u2019s company had a \u201cno gifts from suppliers\u201d policy in its policy manual but failed to advise the employee of the policy or provide any ethics training. Getting millions of dollars in kickbacks isn\u2019t a mistake \u2013 it is a premeditated crime of greed.<\/p>\n

Simply put, if your procurement role gives you many benefits beyond those provided by your employer, you may just have crossed the ethical \u2013 or criminal \u2013 line.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a purchasing professional who deals with suppliers constantly or your scope of work only requires occasional supplier interaction, there are many potential ethical landmines waiting to explode and subsequently ruin your career.<\/p>\n

The good news is that you can identify those supplier interactions\u2014even the subtle ones\u2014that can cross the line between good ethics and poor ethics.<\/p>\n

Become a member of one of the world\u2019s largest procurement associations today.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Recommended Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n