Episode show notes
Committing to procurement transformation that earns buy-in from the board is a hurdle made far easier to vault with the help of one key asset – the right people structure.
It’s a foundational part of Patrick Dunne’s ‘Three P’s’ for progressing any procurement function, an approach that’s evidently effective. Patrick’s experience spans industries, and boasts the 2019 CIPS Leader of the Year award.
Patrick, Director of Group Property, Procurement and Cost Transformation at Sainsbury’s for 4 years now, joins us this week to discuss how he’s earned autonomy as a function, creating the right structure of procurement professionals, and the steps that Sainsbury’s are taking to achieve their Net-Zero plan.
This episode of Talent Talks covers:
- Earning autonomy as a procurement function
- How to become a broader leader
- Learning from those in day-to-day operations as well as those above you
- Getting started on the sustainability agenda, and Sainsbury’s Net Zero pledge
- Keeping engaged teams through remote working restrictions
- Where we need to improve bringing people into the professions
The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Barkers Commercial Consultancy. Barkers are a multi-award-winning ethical, procurement consultancy offering specialist services including cost and procurement transformation, contract lifecycle management, procurement managed services, bid writing services and digital procurement https://barkersprocurement.com/
Episode highlights
“I tend towards transformational change. Wherever I go in, I always look at an existing operation, whether it be procurement or property, and quickly understand how we could make it better. Of course, if you’re going to start a programme of change, you want to set some milestones and some targets, and I’ve always set quite ambitious targets.” – 3:35 – Patrick Dunne
“I cannot go out and commit things to the business about how it’s going to be, whether we’re delivering better targets or we’re going to deliver a better service, unless behind me is a good team of people who can live into that. So the first change agenda for me is normally making sure we have the right people structure.” – 7:20 – Patrick Dunne
“When I’m in a supermarket and I see or hear things, I will always come back and follow up with the store manager and my team to make sure we’re acting on all the things that were picked up on the day.” – 10:40 – Patrick Dunne
“Procurement has a generational opportunity here – we are well positioned to lead the sustainability agenda for your business. If you as a CPO are not leading the agenda, or at least equally contributing to this agenda, then you’re doing something wrong in your organisation.” – 17:00 – Patrick Dunne
“We don’t force people into an office, but we do encourage people to be in a number of days a week for collaboration & communication. We’ve set up our offices in a way that allows a greater number of teams to come together to do collaboration and communication events.” – 24:20 – Patrick Dunne
“Procurement has become much more prominent in businesses. I think CEOs and CFOs, particularly in Europe but also in America now, have woken up to the value that comes from great procurement, whether it be commercial value or sustainable supply chains of the carbon agenda. I think that’s allowed many CPOs to take on additional responsibilities, to have much more prominent seats across their company.” – 28:45 – Patrick Dunne
“Be prepared to get fired. Be that bold, be that ambitious. That is a tough one when you’re younger, but hopefully you never get fired because you achieve the bold ambitions that you’re setting. But I suppose what I’m saying is, don’t be playing safe.” – 36:45 – Patrick Dunne
Links & References
- Patrick Dunne, Director of Group Property, Procurement and Cost Transformation at Sainsburys Plc
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickgdunne/
- Sainsbury’s
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sainsburys/
- Martin Smith, Founder & Director of Talent Drive
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsmith2009/
