LEGEND

Joining the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain ( CIPS ) in 2018 , Malcolm Harrion ’ s career has been intertwined with the procurement industry for over 30 years .

Joining the profession in 1982 as a management trainee at Mars , the industry was centred around ensuring continuity and consistency of the supply chain and delivering value . Today procurement ’ s priorities have only grown to include sustainability , ethics and security of the supply chain .

However , one of the most important focuses for Harrison is ensuring procurement is as professional as it can be . “ Procurement teams are at the heart of the solutions to many of the issues that organisations have faced during the COVID-19 crisis and the capabilities of procurement professionals have been hugely valued ,” says Harrison . “ We must ensure that we continue to uphold the highest ethical standards and implement , and use , the most

years of experience in the procurement industry robust procurement processes along the way .”

With this belief in upholding the highest standards in procurement , Harrions values the importance of procurement professionals remaining current . “ In a world where everything is connected , understanding the impact of our sourcing and buying decisions has never been so important ,” says Harrison .

“ CIPS Chartered Status is a way for members to show they are both relevant and responsible . It ’ s about staying on top of your game at a time when the game is changing at pace .” When it comes to leading good procurement , Harrison believes that it ’ s not about whether you are at the top table or not , it ’ s about the ability to influence an organisation . “ It ’ s about understanding the business and your priorities , as well as the skillset and that mixture of technical and soft skills ,” said Harrison .

Prior to joining CIPS , Harrison has worked for the likes of Nestlé , Molson Coors , Britvič and AB-InBev .

16 April 2021