Spotlight on Procurement: Recent Episodes
Efficio Consulting
The buying of goods and services is at the heart of most businesses across the world. In an increasingly complex global economy challenged by cost reduction pressures, supply chain disruptions, security of supply concerns, and the challenges of meeting sustainability targets, the topics of procurement and supply chains are more important than they have ever been. In the Efficio Spotlight podcast, we talk to industry leaders across the globe about their stories, both personal and professional, to understand what it's like to work in such an exciting area at such a pivotal time.
Host: Simon Lipscomb Producer: Abi Kramer
We would love to hear your feedback, please write to us at EfficioPodcast@efficioconsulting.com
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Katja Forbes, globally recognised AI strategist, digital visionary and one of the world's Top 25 AI Leaders, to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming procurement and the wider business landscape.
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Torsten Pilz, CEO of Counterpoint Labs and former supply chain leader at 3M, Honeywell, SpaceX and Amazon, to discuss how AI and autonomous operations are reshaping the future of supply chain management.
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Simon Lipscomb is joined by Sarah Walters, Head of Procurement at AXA, to explore how curiosity, early engagement, and strong supplier relationships drive meaningful value across the procurement lifecycle.
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Sarah Walters, Head of Procurement at AXA, to explore how curiosity, early engagement, and strong supplier relationships drive meaningful value across the procurement lifecycle.
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Piotr Teodorczyk, Chief Supply Chain at Elite Agro Holding and former CPO at Suntory Holdings Limited. The conversation explores why successful change is as much about people and culture as it is about technology, and how AI can enhance, not replace, procurement teams.
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Victoria Cope, Commercial Director – Defence Digital and UK Ministry of Defence, to explore how technology, innovation, and culture change are redefining procurement and commercial strategy across government.
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Todd Heimes, Vice President and General Manager of Amazon Business Worldwide, to discuss how technology, innovation, and consumer-style simplicity are reshaping the way organisations manage everyday business spend.
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Courtney Blake (former Senior Humanitarian Advisor and Team Lead at USAID, with experience at Save the Children, the UN Population Fund, and the International Rescue Committee) to explore what crisis-tested leadership can teach procurement and supply chain professionals.
In this episode, Jessica Spicher is joined by Mert Erkan, Vice President at Efficio, to explore why procurement and supply chain deserve a front-row seat in M&A strategy. Drawing on his work with private equity clients, Mert shares key insights into what sets successful integrations apart - and what others often miss. Whether you're in the middle of a deal or simply looking to sharpen your value creation playbook, this six-minute snapshot offers food for thought.
Simon Lipscomb is joined by Bryan Wright (Sourcing and Supply Chain Strategy at Alo Yoga and Board Member at Silvert’s Adaptive Clothing) and Danny Wang (Principal at Efficio, formerly SVP at Canada Goose) to explore the strategic and operational realities shaping procurement in the fashion and apparel industry.
In this episode, Jacqui Rock, returns to the mic—this time from Riyadh—offering an inside look at one of the most significant healthcare transformations happening today. From steering NHS England’s commercial strategy to playing a leading role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 health reforms, Jacqui shares reflections on system change, international collaboration, and what the future of healthcare might really look like.
In this episode of Procurement Snapshot, Jessica Spicher and Paul Baris dive into the emotional and strategic elements of change management in procurement.
Are we ready for war in an era of geopolitical instability? In this episode of Spotlight on Procurement, retired Major General and Professor Tim Hodgetts CB CBE OStJ DL, former Surgeon General of the UK Armed Forces, shares insider insights on the evolving challenges of military medicine, logistics, and global conflict preparedness—from predictive medical warning signs to the failure of just-in-time logistics in conflict.
Emma-Jane Houghton, Director of Estate Strategy & Planning for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, is responsible for all master-planning activities at AWE. Prior to this, she led the commercial establishment of AWE’s multi-billion-pound, flagship infrastructure programme: Future Materials Campus.
During this conversation Emma-Jane Hough and host Simon Lipscomb explore her personal reflections on what the concept of ‘clienting’ really means, the importance of client organisations enhancing their ‘clienting abilities’ to deliver outcomes for transformative programmes on complex sites.
In this episode of Procurement snapshot, host Jessica Spicher sits down with Matthew Lekstutis, Director at Efficio, to discuss the evolving landscape of tariffs and the critical role procurement plays in mitigating risks.
Tom Mills, a prominent voice in procurement with over 84,000 LinkedIn, shares how he harnessed LinkedIn to build his influence and elevate the procurement profession.
As we step into 2025, the world of procurement and supply chains is brimming with challenges and opportunities. From navigating shifting global markets to embracing sustainability and technological advancements, this episode offers expert insights into what lies ahead.
Host Simon Lipscomb and a panel of Efficio experts explore the key trends impacting procurement and supply chains across various industries and regions.
Karina Hill, Director of People and Culture at IPC Asia, discusses the role of “people” in facilitating successful transformations, based on her experience of driving change in the company's procurement structure.
Host Jessica Spicher takes the mic for a new series of shorter, insightful episodes called Procurement Snapshot. We start the series with a focus on procurement’s critical relationship with finance. Jessica interviews Vice President, Fabian Bodoky, about the evolving collaboration between procurement and finance in private equity and high-growth tech companies.
Mat Langley, Global Procurement Head, Sustainability at CBRE, discusses the pressing challenge of decarbonising supply chains, particularly the complexities around emissions, supplier engagement, and carbon accounting.
Simon Clarke, Managing Director of Birmingham and Solihull Procurement Collaborative, and Mat Oram, CEO & Co-founder of AdviseInc Ltd, dive into the critical role of procurement in the NHS, focusing on the challenges and opportunities presented by data management, financial constraints, and the evolving nature of supply chain practices in healthcare.
Marco Forgione MCIEx, Director General at The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade as well as Visiting Professor, at Aston University and Ashray Lavsi, Principal at Efficio, discuss global supply chain challenges in recent years, including the impact of events like the CrowdStrike IT outage.
Jay Ferro, EVP, Chief Information, Technology, & Product Officer, at Clario and Mert Erkan, Vice President at Efficio, discuss how IT, product management, and procurement can work together to drive successful business transformations. Listen to this episode in order to gain actionable insights from a CIO on managing large-scale business transformations and to understand how to build stronger cross functional teams and partnerships that drive long-term success.
Sarah Collecott, Commercial Specialist, Procurement and Contract Management, at the UK Home Office, discusses the importance of maintaining wellbeing and authenticity in a high-profile, high-pressure workplace.
Ninian Wilson, Global Supply Chain Director & CEO Vodafone Procurement Co Sarl, discusses the challenges surrounding supply chain management, particularly focusing on geopolitical risks and supply chain resilience.
Rebecca Lonsdale, CPO at BP Castrol, discusses her career journey, from her first job in procurement at Nissan to her current role at Castrol. She also shares her stories about the impactful individuals and leaders she has worked with over the years, as well as her experience working in different countries and transitioning from direct to indirect procurement.
Terry Corby, Founder and CEO of Good Business Pays CIC, discusses an often under-estimated aspect to maintaining a healthy supply chain and fostering innovation: prompt payment.
Sam Achampong FCIPS, Regional Managing Director of CIPS Middle East & North Africa (MENA), discusses how the procurement profession has transformed since he moved to Dubai in 2008 and the challenges and opportunities the region offers.
We sit down with Malcolm Harrison, the former Chief Procurement Officer of Nestlé and, most recently, the former CEO of the Crown Commercial Service and of CIPS. During this episode, Malcolm takes us through his over 40 years in the procurement profession, the changes he's seen take place and his thoughts on the future of procurement.
We're starting the year by pulling together different views on what the next 12 months look like for procurement and supply chain across a range of industries.
Aris Georgopoulos, Assistant Professor in Public Law and European Law at the University of Nottingham, who is also the Head of the Innovation, AI, Strategic, and Defence Procurement Research Unit, discusses AI in the context of procurement and how it has the potential to change the way we see the world, the way that we work and the way that we live our lives.
Rendi Miller, VP of Global Travel and Procurement at Qualtrics, discusses her extensive experience in procurement roles in tech startups and high-growth companies.
Darren Knowd MBA, (Durham) MCIPS, Head of Procurement, Sales and Business Services at Durham County Council, discusses procurement at a local government level and the importance of social value.
Rob Johnson, former Global Purchasing Director, Jaguar Land Rover, and Honorary Professor at Nottingham University Business School, discusses his experience in the automotive industry and the industrial revolution as we move from combustion engines to electrification.
Andy Clark, Head of Commercial Services at Yorkshire Water, discusses his unusual route into procurement, having never run a procurement process. He believes that procurement has a wider purpose than just procuring goods and services and that understanding the business's core purpose is crucial for turbocharging its operations.
Andrew Newnham, Chief Procurement Officer at Marks & Spencer, discusses the challenges he faces in the current economic environment, as well as and the importance of negotiating, measuring savings, and understanding sourcing.
Joining us in this episode are two leaders in a young and fast-developing industry: cannabis.
In this episode, Timeka Dew (Founder & CEO of Biko Flower), Tony Kim (CEO of Telos CG Inc) and host, Simon Lipscomb, discuss:
- The history of cannabis legalisation and the cannabis industry in the US
- The supply chain challenges that the industry faces in different US states
- The role of social equity in the cannabis industry
- Where the cannabis industry is headed
Martin Smith, Managing Director at Talent Drive, shares his views on recruiting in the procurement and supply chain space, the direction he sees the profession heading, and the misconceptions people have about the industry.
Pauline Potter, Procurement Director at EVRi (formerly Hermes ParcelNet), shares her experience transitioning from a consulting career to a CPO role and how being a consultant has made her a better Procurement Director.
Richard Bonnar, a lawyer specialising in major projects for the government and a part-time professor, shares his thoughts on the upcoming Procurement Reform Bill and how this will impact the UK government’s procurement.
Matthias Gutzmann, Founder of Digital Procurement World (DPW), shares his entrepreneurship journey.
Jim Davies, CFA, Procurement Finance Director at BT Group, shares his experience addressing the thorny issue of measuring procurement savings.
Dr Beverley Jandziol MCIPS, who is the Commercial Director - Programmes (GCO) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office discusses her recent diagnosis of ADHD and breaks the stigmas often associated with it.
Reshma Ramachandran, Chief Transformation Officer at The Adecco Group, discusses ways to (re)set your ambitions for success. This episode looks at how "Imposter Syndrome" and visions of perfection work against us – especially when it comes to leadership.
Lucy Harding, Partner and Global Head of the Procurement & Supply Chain Practice at Odgers Berndtson, discusses what makes someone successful in a CPO position and what the future of talent in procurement looks like.
Lucy Harding, Partner and Global Head of the Procurement & Supply Chain Practice at Odgers Berndtson, discusses what makes someone successful in a CPO position and what the future of talent in procurement looks like.
Professor Richard Wilding OBE is recognised as one of the world’s leading experts in logistics and supply chain management, retiring this summer after a quarter of a century at Cranfield University. Richard recently created a must-see course called Building Resilient Supply Chains for Effective Risk Management for LinkedIn Learning, and he discusses why it’s vital that everyone in business have a basic understanding of supply chain’s role.
In this episode hear why NHS Chief Sustainability Officer, Dr Nick Watts and NHS Director Of Procurement Transformation and Commercial Delivery, Preeya Bailie MCIPS, see the NHS’s response to climate change as “an enormous opportunity for public health.”
Mayank Shah, Founder & CEO of Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK), discusses the importance of having suppliers that are owned by a traditionally underrepresented individual/group.
Peter Smith, author of “Bad Buying” and “Procurement With Purpose” and Managing Director of Procurement Excellence Ltd, discusses whether procurement as a profession has changed over time. This episode looks into how Peter uses his platform to challenge the procurement community and what the future of procurement and supply chain looks like.
“Spotlight on Procurement” podcast series has been featured in Feedspot’s top 25 Procurement podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eS8zwXTc
Unveiling the problems that too often lie behind CSR buzzwords is Ashish Gadnis, the founder and CEO of BanQu. Ashish describes the systematic issues in traditional procurement processes that are a barrier to combatting poverty – and how BanQu is tackling them by increasing visibility in the supply chain.
In this episode our guest, Patrick Penfield, Professor of Supply Chain Practice, Director of Executive Education at Syracuse University discusses how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is having an impact across the global supply chain.
In this episode our guest, Camilla Davidsen, Head of Procurement at Copenhagen Airports A/S discusses running a huge international airport during the peak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode our guest, Rachel Dolan, Head Of Procurement and Supplier Relationship Management atPermanent TSB discusses her journey to initiate and execute a successful procurement transformation programme.
In this episode our guest, Cyril Pourrat , Chief Procurement Officer at BT discusses the creation of BT Sourced. BT Sourced is the innovative procurement arm of BT and was established to challenge the traditional ways of buying goods and services, with the introduction of new technology.
In this episode our guest, Steve Gibb, Supply Chain Director - Vaccine Programme at NHS England discusses the challenges, pressures and practicalities of building a supply chain at unprecedented speed to vaccinate an entire population.
In this episode our guest, David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky, discusses supply chain cybersecurity. David takes us through some very high profile and damaging attacks and explains how the attackers have both the intent and the ability to exploit vulnerabilities in the supply chain.
Key discussion points include:
- What it means when we talk about cybersecurity risks in supply chains
- What high profile attacks have taken place
- Why these attacks are committed
- The impact COVID-19 has had on cybersecurity
- The actions individuals and business can take to prevent these attacks
Ruth Todd CBE, formerly Programme Director at UK Vaccine Taskforce, talks about her leadership role in the Vaccine Taskforce (VTF), the organisation created by the UK Government to bring together the public, private, and academic sector to lead on the most pressing challenges of recent times – finding a viable vaccine against COVID-19. In the podcast Ruth talks us through the story of the taskforce and the challenges faced along the way, from its founding in the darkest days of the pandemic through to the delivery of a number of successful vaccines.
Key discussion points include:
- Out of the 200 potential vaccines, how the VTF decided where to place its bets
- The challenges of managing public opinion and the media
- The myriad of manufacturing complexities experienced by the VTF
- What it means to have been part of such a landmark project
Victoria Mallinckrodt, Procurement Development Lead at World Economic Forum speaks out on the topic of supplier diversity.
Key discussion points include:
- What is supplier diversity and how do you define what a diverse supplier is?
- Is there a different level of focus on supplier diversity depending on the country?
- How does the topic of suppler diversity fit into sustainability?
- How do organisations make positive progress on this agenda and how do you measure it?
- Do companies need to intervene and help minority owned businesses grow?
- What does the future of supplier diversity look like?
Elizabeth Amuli, Quality Healthcare Specialist at Business for Health Solutions, explains how the organisation strengthens the healthcare systems and improves healthcare access throughout Africa.
Key discussion points include:
- What are some of the key challenges for healthcare access in Africa and what innovative approaches are being used to try and solve these challenges?
- Why is the public health care system better served than the private health care system?
- How has Business for Health Solutions collaborated with Merck group and how can other organisations get involved?
- What does the future of healthcare in Africa look like?
Paul Ekins OBE, Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy at University College London (UCL) boldly speaks out on sustainability and environmental economics. Paul is one of the most esteemed thinkers in this field and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to environmental policy.
Key discussion points include:
- How did Paul become interested in environmental economics and policy?
- Are economic growth and environmental sustainability congruent?
- Who is responsible for driving change if the Government and businesses are not sufficiently doing so?
- What does the future of sustainability look like to Paul?
- What does biodiversity really mean for life as we know it?
- And much more …
Gary Horsfield, Chief Operating Officer UK PPE at NHS Department of Health and Social Carereveals his experience leading a team with responsibility for acquiring and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) at speed, to the UK’s Health and Social Care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key discussion points include:
- How did Gary come to work within the public sector at the NHS, and what have been the highlights?
- What were the initial supply chain challenges at the start of the pandemic, and how did Gary and the team tackle them?
- How has public opinion and press coverage impacted the team?
- What personal and procurement/supply chain positives have been learned from this experience?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio, speaks toJacqui Rock, Chief Commercial Officer at NHS Test and Trace Programme about her experience to rapidly build an organisation of 50,000 people to test and trace the UK's population to COVID-19.
Key discussion points include:
- What circumstances led Jacqui to take on this highly complex role?
- What have been Procurement and Commercial's most prominent achievements?
- How has the press commentary and general public opinion had an impact on the team?
- How will the mass rollout of the vaccination programme affect the ongoing need for test and trace?
- What personal or procurement/ supply chain positives have been learned from building this programme so far?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio, speaks to Patrick Dunne, Director of Group Property, Procurement and Cost Transformation at Sainsbury’son his experience of running procurement/supply-chains through the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Key discussion points include:
- How did they cope with changing customer channels and unprecedented demand?
- How important was procurement and a well-structured supply chain during this time?
- What does the future of Sainsbury’s business look like?
- What importance will CSR and environmental issues have in the future?
- Are there any positives that have come from this difficult time?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio, speaks to Thomas Udesen, Chief Procurement Officer at Bayer/Co-Founder of The Sustainable Procurement Pledge and Eleonore de Montjoye, Manager at Efficio on sustainability in procurement and what actions we can each take to make a difference.
Key discussion points include:
- What does the future of sustainability look like?
- Are organisations generally doing enough on this topic and specifically what can procurement teams do?
- Has sustainability and cost reduction become intertwined?
- Can passionate people on their own make a difference and drive change?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio, speaks to Rob Woodstock, Chief Commercial Officer at HMRC on issues connected to diversity and inclusion, with a specific focus on race. On this podcast, Rob shares his inspiring story and discusses his journey from growing up as a child of an immigrant family on a council estate, to the senior position he holds today.
Highlights include:
- The pressure to fit in and the impact of code-switching
- The difference between not being racist and being anti-racist
- The importance of mentors and the power of self-belief
- Why it’s important to proactively discuss race and inequality
- How to create more success stories and the collective responsibility we hold to be advocates
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio, speaks to Emma Osborn, Category Management Director at Network Rail and Sheena Russel, HR Manager at Efficio on diversity issues around procurement, supply chain and corporate more generally.
Key discussion points include:
- How are organisations tackling diversity and driving change?
- Should the focus on moral imperative take a more active shift towards quotas to achieve meaningful outcomes?
- What next? How can we do better?
There are many insightful books and articles on diversity, gender and inclusion, a couple of which are discussed in the podcast. Please find a few suggestions below; we welcome your feedback and comments on other books on these topics that you find helpful:
- Me and White Supremacy - Layla Saad (as mentioned in the podcast)
- Lean In Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - Sheryl Sandberg (as mentioned in the podcast)
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men – Caroline Criado Perez
- Everyday Sexism – Laura Bates
- Bad Feminist - Roxane Gay
- Men Explain Things to Me - Rebecca Solnit
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio speaks to Emilio Della Bruna, Efficio on the impact COVID-19 is having on working capital. Key discussion points include:
- Why is the impact of working capital so important, especially in this era?
- What are the actions people should be doing now to improve their working capital position?
- What will the future look like from a working capital position?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio speaks to Greg Horgan and Tibor Sotkovszki about how to run successful supplier negotiations
Key discussion points include:
- How to approach supplier negotiations
- Key to success in negotiations
- Long term impact of negotiations
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio speaks to Wolfgang Rueth, Efficio’s SME on chemicals about the impact COVID-19 is having on this category. Key discussion points include:
- The dramatic impact COVID-19 has had on the chemical sector, such as: price drops, price hikes and the issues around demand and supply.
- The short, mid and long term approaches procurement professionals should focus on to manage the crisis.
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio speaks to Ashray Lavsi, Efficio’s SME on Supply Chain about the impact COVID-19 is having on the this category. Key discussion points include:
- What impact is COVID-19 having on the Supply Chain?
- What do you think businesses need to do now to prepare for the new normal?
- How do you think this pandemic will change the ways of working for businesses from a supply chain perspective?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio speaks to Chris Clapham, Efficio’s SME on Logistics about the impact COVID-19 is having on the this category. Key discussion points include:
- What impact is COVID-19 having on Logistics?
- What advice/tips would you give to someone under pressure in this category?
- Can there be any positive impacts either now or in the future?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio speaks to Sushank Agarwal, Efficio’s SME on GFR/Retail about the impact COVID-19 is having on the this category. Key discussion points include:
- What impact is COVID-19 having on GFR and the market more generally?
- What advice/tips would you give to someone under pressure in this category?
- Can there be any positive impacts either now or in the future?
Simon Lipscomb, Sales and Marketing Director at Efficio speaks to Charles Blair, Efficio's SME on technology about the impact COVID-19 is having on the technology category. In this podcast they discuss:
- The challenges faced
- What actions can be taken now to mitigate some of the risks
- Some of the positive impacts
Listen to the podcast