Procurement Uncut

Procurement Magazine

How do you lead a world-class procurement function when the global operating environment changes by the hour? Procurement Uncut, from Procurement Magazine, answers this and more each week.

Through honest and insightful conversations with global CPOs and enterprise leaders we dissect the intricacies of successful procurement strategy. Our guests discuss the full scope of modern procurement, from leadership and technology to building high-performing teams and mitigating risk, to help position modern procurement executives for success.

Discover more at www.procurementmag.com

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21 episodes
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Avg 29 min
English

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S1 · E21
Wednesday · 33 min
Ep.21 | How Ricoh is Transforming Procurement
In this episode of Procurement Uncut, host Aaron McMillan speaks with Dave Batty, Head of EMEA Procurement & Global Programme Lead at Ricoh Europe, about transforming procurement across a complex international organisation. With more than 25 years in procurement, Dave has seen the profession evolve from tactical buying towards a much more strategic role. He explores Ricoh’s journey from fragmented systems, manual processes and limited spend visibility towards an integrated Source-to-Pay model, as well as the importance of bringing teams with you through transformation. Dave also discusses AI, supplier relationships, resilience and why procurement needs to enable the wider business rather than become a blocker.
S1 · E20
September 2 · 29 min
Ep. 20 | Is Autonomous Sourcing the Future of Procurement?
In this episode, host Matt High speaks with Rod Freeman, VP of Customer Success at Globality, about what procurement leaders actually need from AI and how autonomous sourcing could reshape the function. With more than 20 years' experience and having worked with more than 100 leading organisations, Rod has seen procurement transformation from both the strategic and technology sides He explores why boards are moving beyond AI experimentation, why procurement has an opportunity to demonstrate tangible returns from the technology and what a genuinely autonomous sourcing process could look like He also says the biggest challenge facing CPOs isn't the technology – it's changing the operating model around it.
S1 · E19
August 26 · 33 min
Ep.19 | Is Nestlé Transforming Procurement?
Nestlé CPO Jacob Nielsen on procurement transformation, AI, leadership and unlocking value to support business growth. In this episode of Procurement Uncut, host Aaron McMillan speaks with Jacob Nielsen, Chief Procurement Officer at Nestlé, about leading procurement through transformation, disruption and rapid technological change. Speaking at Gartner's Supply Chain Symposium in Barcelona, Jacob shares how Nestlé Procurement is halfway through a three-year transformation programme focused on unlocking efficiencies, simplifying operations and creating sustainable value for the wider business. He also explores leadership under pressure, why curiosity matters and how AI agents could fundamentally change the future role of procurement.
S1 · E18
August 19 · 20 min
Ep.18 | Is Procurement Ready for the AI Revolution?
Procurement leaders are under pressure to move faster, respond to disruption and embrace AI. But investing in more technology does not automatically create more value. In this episode of Procurement Uncut, host Aaron McMillan speaks with João Paulo da Silva, Regional President of EMEA & APAC at Coupa, about what organisations need to get right as AI reshapes procurement and supply chain. Drawing on a career spanning technology, marketing, sales and leadership, including extensive experience at SAP, João explores why successful transformation starts with people, processes and data – not AI alone. He also discusses the growing challenge of unpredictability, the rapid acceleration of AI adoption, the importance of human connection and why procurement needs to cement its position as a strategic partner to the wider business.
S1 · E17
August 12 · 35 min
Ep. 17 | Will Procurement as We Know It Disappear?
What happens to procurement when machines can negotiate, analyse data and complete routine tasks more effectively than humans? In this episode of Procurement Uncut, host Aaron McMillan speaks with Chris Bullock, Chief Procurement Officer at Al-Futtaim Group, about how AI could reshape the procurement operating model and why human skills will become even more important as technology advances. Chris draws on a career spanning procurement, technology, aviation and major global organisations to explore the changing role of procurement, from AI adoption and emotional intelligence to supplier relationships, sustainability and leading teams through volatility. He also explains why procurement should move beyond its reputation as a cost-cutting function and become so embedded within the organisation that it is simply recognised as a valued business partner.
S1 · E16
August 5 · 23 min
Ep.16 | Why Humans Bring the Real Value in AI Application
Procurement's AI journey has moved through curiosity and experimentation. Now comes the hard part. John Frank, Chief Customer Officer at Coupa, joins host Aaron McMillan live from Coupa Inspire in Las Vegas to explain what enterprise-scale AI deployment actually demands, why agentic AI shifts accountability in ways that require new governance frameworks and what the procurement function looks like when agents handle the routine and humans handle the judgment calls. Expect an honest conversation about human-centred leadership, procurement transformation, supply chain resilience, learning through failure and the importance of celebrating success.
S1 · E15
July 29 · 35 min
Ep. 15 | Why Great Procurement Begins Beyond the Desk
Amey Fairbrother is clear: the best procurement decisions don’t happen behind a desk or shut away in the office. Instead, they come when leaders focus on understanding people, operations and customers on the shop floor. In this episode of the Procurement Podcast, host Aaron McMillan discusses this philosophy with Amey, Head of Procurement at Parkdean Resorts. Having built her career across hospitality and procurement, Amey explains why procurement professionals should experience the businesses they support first-hand, why supplier relationships should be built around customer outcomes and why curiosity remains one of the profession's most valuable skills. Expect an honest discussion on operational understanding, stakeholder collaboration, supplier partnerships and the leadership qualities that are essential for procurement teams wanting to create value beyond cost savings.
S1 · E14
July 22 · 34 min
Ep. 14 | Why The Shop Floor Shapes Better Procurement Leaders
From the Peugeot assembly line in Coventry to leading nearly US$1bn in global spend across six continents, Damien Huppert has built a career on operational understanding, trust and saying yes. This week, he joins host Aaron McMillan to discuss supplier relationships, procurement transformation, the misconception that it's all about price and why AI is only as good as the strategy behind it. Drawing on a hugely successful career, Damian shares the principles that have defined his leadership – and what he teaches the next generation at Toulouse Business School.
S1 · E13
July 15 · 24 min
Ep. 13 | Coupa & AWS Takeover Special: The Future of AI-Driven Procurement
No host. No script. Just two of procurement technology's biggest leaders with a lot to say about the future of the function. This week, Greg Harbor of Coupa and Chinmay Joshi of AWS take over the Procurement Podcast live from Coupa Inspire to discuss AI agents, Coupa's $10tn spend dataset and why interoperability will define the next era of enterprise technology. From 163 agents built in a single day to real traction across banking, manufacturing and higher education, this is one of the more grounded AI conversations you'll hear this year.
S1 · E12
July 8 · 28 min
Ep. 12 | Why Curiosity is Procurement's Greatest Advantage
AI will automate the admin. What it can't replace is curiosity. Ben Terry, Chief Procurement Officer at evoke, joins host Aaron McMillan to discuss how procurement can become a genuine commercial partner, why chameleon-like adaptability matters more than ever, and what gets lost if the entry-level steps disappear. After nearly two decades across music, gaming retail and betting Ben has seen procurement from every angle.
S1 · E11
July 1 · 33 min
Ep.11 | Are Super Agents Procurement's Future? Zip's Felix Meng Explains
Super agents can think, plan and execute complex procurement tasks without human intervention. So what does that mean for procurement teams? Felix Meng, Co-Founder of Zip, joins host Matt High live from DPW New York to discuss the next stage of AI in procurement, why governance is the foundation that makes it work, and what the function looks like on the other side of this transformation. Join us for half an hour of high-energy, fast-paced procurement chat with straight from New York.
S1 · E10
June 24 · 25 min
Ep 10 | Why Procurement Must Recode for AI with Matthias Gutzmann
Is your procurement function ready for AI, or just ready to look like it is? DPW Founder Matthias Gutzmann joins host Matt High live from New York to discuss Recode, DPW's boldest theme yet, and why real AI transformation means rebuilding procurement from the ground up, not layering technology onto outdated processes. From the thinking behind the theme to the investment reshaping the industry, Matthias makes a compelling case for why optimisation isn't enough anymore.
S1 · E9
June 17 · 32 min
Episode 9 | Is Procurement Ready for AI and What Comes Next? With Nils Windahl
In fast-scaling tech organisations, how does procurement maintain control without becoming the bottleneck? Nils Windahl, Director of Group Procurement at Sinch, joins Aaron McMillan to answer this question. In this episode they discuss how the CPO role has evolved well beyond cost-cutting and what procurement leaders need to do next. Nils covers why AI won't fix broken processes, how to shift procurement's reputation from blocker to business partner and why critical thinking is now the most important skill in the function. Key takeaways: communicate early and often, challenge what AI tells you and never mistake a supporting function for a passive one.
S1 · E8
June 10 · 32 min
Episode 8 | Procurement Podcast: Procurement as a Strategic Enabler with Hiten Parmar
In this episode of the Procurement Magazine Podcast, host Aaron McMillan sits down with Hiten Parmar, Chief Procurement Officer at Beazley, to explore his remarkable 25-year career spanning Reuters, UBS, HSBC, and GSK. Hiten shares his vision for procurement as a true strategic enabler, discussing the importance of breaking free from legacy thinking, speaking the language of the boardroom and harnessing AI and data to drive real business growth. It’s a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their procurement game and add measurable strategic value.
S1 · E7
June 3 · 34 min
Episode 7 | Procurement Podcast: 30+ Years of Sourcing Strategy with Mahbub Chowdhury
In this episode of the Procurement Magazine Podcast, host Aaron McMillan sits down with seasoned procurement executive Mahbub Chowdhury to unpack his incredible three-decade journey through the industry. From his accidental start as a finance graduate dealing with inventory control variances to leading strategic procurement at Citibank, Mahbub shares invaluable lessons on how the profession has evolved from simple "buying" to a core business driver.
S1 · E6
May 27 · 29 min
Episode 6 | Procurement Podcast: Radian's Peter Sharoff on AI Strategy
In this episode of Procurement Podcast, Peter Sharoff Strategic Sourcing Lead at Radian breaks down his philosophy of managing procurement as a "dual-mode" function. He argues that procurement leaders must balance two distinct speeds: a fast, customer-service-oriented track for low-risk, low-value requests, and a more deliberate, relationship-driven track for high-value strategic sourcing. The key to avoiding organisational friction is alignment; horror stories of businesses complaining about procurement usually stem from a fundamental disconnect between what the function is trying to enforce and what the business actually needs to move forward. Cost optimisation strategies without compromising service quality or innovation.
S1 · E5
May 20 · 30 min
Episode 5 | Procurement Podcast: Mathias Grünewald on AI and Leadership
In this episode of the Procurement Magazine podcast, host Aaron McMillan sits down with Mathias Grünewald, a seasoned procurement leader with over 30 years of experience. Mathias shares insights from his extensive career at Merck Group—where he rose from a team leader to Chief Procurement Officer for electronics—and discusses his current work in procurement transformation at Susonity.
S1 · E4
May 13 · 32 min
Episode 4 | Procurement Podcast: British Council's Andrew Swift on AI
In this episode, host Aaron McMillan sits down with global procurement expert Andrew Swift to dissect the evolving landscape of public sector sourcing. Far from being a mere back-office function, modern procurement has become a high-stakes lever for organizational influence and international diplomacy. From navigating the rigid requirements of compliance to driving measurable global impact, Aaron and Andrew explore how leaders can transform decentralized supply chains into cohesive engines for change.
S1 · E3
May 6 · 28 min
Episode 3 | Procurement Podcast: Celebrating Excellence in Procurement
Host Aaron McMillan talks about redefining procurement excellence through innovation, influence, and value creation beyond cost savingsBuilding high-performance procurement cultures that drive enterprise-wide transformation.The role of “curiosity-led leadership” in modern procurement strategy and decision-making.How procurement leaders can elevate visibility and impact at board levelFuture-facing procurement: embedding agility, resilience, and continuous improvement into operating models.
S1 · E2
April 29 · 22 min
Dennis Evashenk on AI, Trust & SaaS
Join our host Aaron McMillan as he speaks with Dennis Evashenk, Global Strategic Sourcing & Category Manager for Corporate Services & SaaS at DoorDash. Drawing on a career that spans nonprofit transformation, international operations, global sourcing, and leadership roles across major organisations, Evashenk offers a grounded perspective on how procurement leaders can reposition themselves as strategic business partners in an increasingly complex world.

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