LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT
JIM TOWNSEND
After a career stretching 30 years , and as CPO for one of the world ’ s largest companies , Jim Townsend considers the exciting next career steps for Chief Procurement Officers
Jim Townsend has been CPO at one of the biggest companies in the world , and has three decades of experience at the highest levels of the procurement world . His CV includes positions at Rolls-Royce , GE , Anglo American and most recently at Walgreens Boots Alliance where he was Chief Procurement Officer until July 2022 when he decided to step back and consider the next phase of his life .
Speaking to Procurement Magazine from his kitchen , Jim is relaxed but enthusiastic about the potential for a rewarding Indian Summer for his career and that of many other seasoned procurement industry professionals who have a diverse range of skills to offer . His question after a lifetime of achievement , is that if you have been a CPO at one of the world ’ s largest companies , what comes next ?
“ I pretty well achieved everything that I ’ d wanted to in my previous role . I ’ ve had a very fulfilling career so far , I ’ ve worked for four great blue chip companies and delivered billions of dollars in terms of the benefits over the years and we ’ ve made some amazing transformations ,” he says .
His sabbatical has given him the opportunity to consider the myriad of options available to experienced CPOs and making the right choice of what to invest their time in next .
“ I ’ m probably going to work for another five or ten years and I need to make sure that I choose very carefully a role that is truly fulfilling . It needs to bring me some new experiences and give me something new to learn and adapt to . I don ’ t want a ‘ rinse and repeat ’ of what I ’ ve done before , quite frankly , because that ’ s a really easy thing to do .”
Having worked in all corners of the globe and guided transformative changes in procurement functions at householdname organisations , Jim is aware just how many strands of a business a CPO will have experience of .
“ As a CPO , you typically interface with all of the areas within a business , and you have a pretty good understanding of how
20 September 2023