On this episode of Talent Talks, Rob Douglas joins Martin Smith to share lessons from a remarkable 30-year career spanning Ford, Capgemini, Barclays, Currys, National Grid, and Direct Line Group. From his first role in “purchasing” to his evolution as Chief Procurement Officer, Rob reveals what it takes to build influence, lead through change and stay curious in a fast-evolving profession.

He discusses leadership lessons learned from the Army, the art of supplier relationships, the challenges of attracting new procurement talent and how AI will shape the future of commercial decision-making.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Omnea.

Tune in for a masterclass in leadership, strategy and staying adaptable in an ever-changing procurement landscape.

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Some of the key moments during this podcast include:

How Rob started his career in procurement after the Army

Lessons learned from Ford’s legendary graduate program

Building lasting supplier relationships and trust

Adapting across industries: retail, energy and financial services

What defines “the buyer’s instinct” and how to spot it

How procurement has evolved over three decades

The growing role of risk management and cyber resilience

Why graduate programs are disappearing, and why that’s a problem

Rob’s advice for aspiring CPOs

How AI and automation could enhance, not replace, procurement

Soundbites

“You can be fact-driven without being horrible.”

“The buyer’s instinct. You either have it or you don’t.”

“Procurement isn’t just about savings anymore. It’s about resilience and relationships.”

“As a leader, it’s not about winning every argument. It’s about helping your team make great decisions.”

“Treat suppliers well. It’s a small industry, you’ll meet them again.”

“We’ve lost too many graduate programs, and the profession will feel that gap.”

“Curiosity has taken me further than ambition ever did.”

“AI will enhance procurement. It won’t replace human instinct.”

“Preparation is everything. You can’t fake being ready.”

“If you want to be a great CPO, keep lifting the bonnet and stay curious.”

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – Early Career and Army lessons

03:00 – Learning the Foundations at Ford

05:20 – Building Strong Supplier Relationships

08:10 – Adapting Across Industries

11:50 – How Procurement has Evolved

13:10 – Buyer’s Instinct

18:00 – Balancing Risk and Commerciality

20:40 – Leadership Lessons and Developing Teams

24:30 – The Future of Procurement Talent

30:10 – Advice for Aspiring CPOs

37:00 – Quickfire Questions