Building procurement from the ground up: Lessons from a new Head of Procurement

Starting fresh in a Head of Procurement role is both exhilarating and daunting - especially when you're tasked with creating a function from scratch. In this episode, Tom Mills talks with Hayley, newly appointed Head of Procurement at a fast-growing engineering group, about what it really takes to build procurement foundations in a rapidly scaling business.

Hayley shares her journey from working with global brands like Costa Coffee and Coca-Cola to stepping into a leadership role where she’s defining procurement strategy, systems, and culture from day one. You’ll hear how she’s approaching her first 100 days - from listening before acting, to setting realistic priorities, and creating early wins without losing sight of long-term transformation.

The conversation dives into the human side of stepping up into leadership: managing expectations, learning to “sit on your hands” when you’re used to delivering fast, and building credibility through partnership rather than process. Hayley opens up about the challenges of moving from large corporates to a medium-sized enterprise, the differences in supplier dynamics, and how to balance ambition with patience.

Whether you’re preparing for your first head of procurement role or leading transformation in a new environment, this episode offers a candid look at how to lay the groundwork for success - one conversation, process, and relationship at a time.

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