How does someone with no procurement background end up building one of Europe’s fastest-growing procure-tech companies?

In this episode of Talent Talks, Martin Smith sits down with Ben Freeman, co-founder and CEO of Omnea, the AI-native intake and orchestration platform transforming how companies like Spotify, Wise, Monzo and Adecco manage spend, supplier risk and procurement workflows.

Ben shares his unexpected path into procurement tech, from founding cybersecurity scale-up Tessian to spending 18 months searching for his next big idea. After more than 300 interviews with procurement leaders, Ben uncovered systemic problems around collaboration, process, risk and user experience - leading him to build Omnea in 2022.

Now over 150 people strong across London and New York, Omnea has raised more than $75 million from Accel, Khosla and Insight Partners, and is redefining how procurement operates in the AI era.

This conversation covers talent density, efficiency, product philosophy, market noise, AI realities, and what CPOs are really struggling with today. Ben’s honesty, clarity and founder mindset make this one of the most insightful episodes to date.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Omnea!

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more listeners discover Talent Talks.

Some of the key moments during this podcast:

• How Ben went from cybersecurity founder to procure–tech CEO
• Why he spent 18 months exploring ideas before launching Omnea
• What 300+ interviews revealed about procurement’s biggest problems
• Why talent density is the most important factor in scaling
• Lessons learned from Tessian and applying them to Omnea
• The importance of patience and product quality in enterprise software
• Why brand awareness matters - even with an 86% RFP win rate
• How AI is reshaping procurement roles and team structures
• The difference between hype-driven AI and real operational impact
• Why the future of procurement is collaborative, connected and AI-native

Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Who Is Ben Freeman?
01:10 – How did a non-procurement founder build a procure–tech company?
05:30 – What did 300+ interviews reveal about procurement’s biggest problems?
11:40 – How did Omnea scale to 150 people and $75m raised in 3 years?
17:00 – Why is talent density the biggest determinant of success?
25:30 – What has Omnea done right—and what’s been underestimated?
33:10 – How does Omnea differentiate in a noisy market?
41:00 – What are CPOs really struggling with today?
50:20 – What’s the real impact of AI on procurement?
59:00 – Final reflections and the future of Omnea

What does it take to grow from a young apprentice to leading global procurement transformation?

In this episode of Talent Talks, Leigh Hurrell, Director of Indirect Procurement at Entrust, joins Martin Smith to discuss his two-decade journey through aerospace, defence and technology. From BAE Systems, Thales, Onfido and now Entrust.

Leigh shares how he built a career grounded in curiosity, long-term planning and a deep belief in the value of trust and relationships.

Leigh offers practical advice for building great teams, fostering transparency with suppliers and balancing commercial rigour with innovation and agility.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Omnea!

If you enjoy conversations that unpack leadership, growth and the evolving role of procurement, this one’s for you. Don’t forget to subscribe, share and leave a review to help more people discover Talent Talks.

Some of the key moments during this podcast include:

How Leigh first discovered procurement at BAE Systems
The lessons learned from early management roles
Why having a 10-year plan changed his career
Building long-term supplier relationships based on trust and respect
Leading procurement transformation at Onfido and Entrust
Managing growth, acquisitions and rapid change
Balancing commercial decisions with innovation and risk
Hiring for values, not just skills
The evolving role of procurement in cyber and digital supply chains

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

00:40 – How Leigh started in procurement

02:50 – Early lessons from BAE Systems and Thales

06:36 – The power of curiosity and career planning

08:24 – Building lasting supplier relationships

13:19 – Moving to Onfido and adapting to rapid growth

17:42 – Procurement during acquisition and transformation

20:30 – Balancing technology, budgets and risk

23:14 – Building teams and hiring the right people

27:29 – Leadership and team culture

31:10 – The evolution of procurement and new challenges

37:14 – Quickfire questions and final reflections

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.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a colleague and leave us a quick review. It really helps the show grow!

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