51. Keith McCabe, Founder & Managing Director @ AVAM Solutions

Keith McCabe is the Founder & Managing Director of AVAM Solutions, a specialist procurement and supply chain consultancy focused on cost reduction, supplier performance, project delivery, and strategy. Before taking his knowledge into consultancy, Keith was an experienced Procurement practitioner and leader at organizations such as NHS, United Biscuits, Carillion, and Aramark. Keith is also a Procurement and Supply Chain thought leader as the Co-Founder and Host at Proctopus.

(00:40) - Introducing Keith

(01:29) - How did Keith start with Procurement? Did he choose it or did it choose him?

(04:18) - Does creativity play a role in Procurement?

(06:19) - Why does Keith say that Procurement is one of the last entrepreneurial roles?

(09:08) - Is there an experience where Keith felt truly entrepreneurial in Procurement?

(13:46) - What does Keith think it takes to make the transition from a Procurement practitioner into a leader?

(16:55) - What are the key ways that Keith has seen Procurement’s role evolve in the last 25 years?

(21:24) - Does Keith think that savings will ever be less important for Procurement than sustainability?

(22:57) - What’s the most interesting learning that Keith has had in his journey?

(28:55) - What has kept Keith still working in Procurement?

(30:41) - Is it okay to get creative in negotiating with suppliers?

(37:23) - What helped Keith make the transition into Procurement consulting?

(43:45) - Does humor have a place in Procurement?

(48:04) - Keith answers our round of quick-fire questions

(50:23) - Get in touch with Keith!