THE PROCUREMENT INTERVIEW WATCH NOW About Jabil
“ I am not a salesperson, but I do love the art of negotiation and the human side of procurement,” he explains.“ People are central to every decision we make. That’ s why my strategy focuses on treating people like people: building real relationships, fostering transparency and enabling collaboration.”
For Graham, procurement is about creating value through people and partnerships that enable business, rather than just cost. He is inspired by the character of the many entrepreneurs he has met throughout his career:“ people who have not only the vision, but the stamina and grit to take an idea and turn it into a thriving organisation”. This spirit, he says, inspires a desire to foster similar qualities in himself and his organisation.
This extends to the scope of focus, looking at the business itself rather than just money.“ These are the qualities of a successful, respectful and trustworthy procurement function,” he says.
Strengths and challenges The procurement team’ s role is to anticipate what could happen and build a resilient supply chain that can handle shocks.
Graham explains:“ That requires predictive, proactive management: the right checks, the right processes, the right people and the right technology, all working together to minimise impact and de-risk the supply chain.”
Graham says:“ Procurement sits at the intersection between component manufacturers and OEMs, and being effective requires more than technical skill; it requires being a steady, reliable presence.”
Emerging technologies, like AI, offer new and potentially powerful solutions – but also introduce new risks.
30 April 2026