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Legend: Malcolm Harrison
Malcolm Harrison
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Joining the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS) in 2018, Malcolm Harrion’s career has been intertwined with the procurement industry for over 30 years.
Joining the profession in 1982 as a management trainee at Mars, the industry was centred around ensuring continuity and consistency of the supply chain and delivering value. Today procurement’s priorities have only grown to include sustainability, ethics and security of the supply chain.
However, one of the most important focuses for Harrison is ensuring procurement is as professional as it can be. “Procurement teams are at the heart of the solutions to many of the issues that organisations have faced during the COVID-19 crisis and the capabilities of procurement professionals have been hugely valued,” says Harrison. “We must ensure that we continue to uphold the highest ethical standards and implement, and use, the most robust procurement processes along the way.”
With this belief in upholding the highest standards in procurement, Harrions values the importance of procurement professionals remaining current. “In a world where everything is connected, understanding the impact of our sourcing and buying decisions has never been so important,” says Harrison.
“CIPS Chartered Status is a way for members to show they are both relevant and responsible. It’s about staying on top of your game at a time when the game is changing at pace.”
When it comes to leading good procurement, Harrison believes that it’s not about whether you are at the top table or not, it’s about the ability to influence an organisation. “It’s about understanding the business and your priorities, as well as the skillset and that mixture of technical and soft skills,” said Harrison.
Prior to joining CIPS, Harrison has worked for the likes of Nestlé, Molson Coors, Britvič and AB-InBev.
