Recruit the right Procurement Director
Recruiting the right Procurement Director is a critical step in creating a more cost-effective, resilient, and strategically aligned supply chain. The role demands more than purchasing expertise — it requires a commercially focused leader who can balance cost control with value creation, navigate global supply risks, and build supplier relationships that support long-term business goals. With experts like Oliver leading the recruitment process, companies can appoint a Procurement Director who not only secures competitive advantage but also strengthens operational and financial performance.
For organisations seeking a Procurement Director, working with experienced professionals who understand the intricacies of strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and supplier risk management is essential. This focused, insight-led approach ensures that the successful candidate has the leadership strength, commercial acumen, and industry understanding to drive procurement transformation and deliver measurable value.
Introducing your expert for recruiting the right Procurement Director.
Oliver Adderley
Managing Director, Adderleys Executive Search
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Tel: 0207 874 7204
Email: oja@adderleys.com
Oliver brings over twenty years of experience in executive search, with a specialised focus on recruiting senior level talent across various industries. His extensive network of senior leadership talent throughout the United Kingdom uniquely positions him to identify and attract top-tier candidates for this critical role.
Throughout his career, Oliver has collaborated with a diverse range of businesses, from multinational corporations and renowned brands to small and medium-sized enterprises. His expertise in executive search and recruitment marketing, combined with his deep understanding of the recruitment landscape, has consistently driven successful outcomes in securing high-calibre leadership.
Oliver’s track record in recruiting Procurement Directors is marked by his ability to understand the nuanced requirements of each organisation, ensuring a perfect alignment between candidate capabilities and company needs. His strategic thinking and problem-solving skills enable him to navigate the complexities of the recruitment process, devising innovative solutions that meet the unique challenges of each search.
With his broad-spectrum experience and intimate familiarity with the intricacies of executive recruitment, Oliver is perfectly positioned to lead the search for a new Procurement Director. His comprehensive knowledge and versatile skill set ensure that he can deliver exceptional results, contributing significantly to the company's ongoing success and leadership continuity.
The Importance of a Skilled Procurement Director
The Procurement Director plays a vital role at the intersection of commercial performance, operational efficiency, and supply chain strategy. As organisations face increasing pressure to manage costs, improve ESG performance, and secure resilient supply networks, procurement leadership has never been more business-critical.
A high-performing Procurement Director brings strategic oversight and commercial discipline to supplier relationships. They are responsible for ensuring that the procurement function delivers both immediate cost savings and long-term value through smarter sourcing, stronger contracts, and improved vendor performance. Beyond operational purchasing, they influence decisions around make-or-buy strategy, sustainability, risk management, and innovation.
In sectors such as manufacturing, distribution, technology, professional services, and not-for-profit, the Procurement Director plays a key role in aligning procurement with broader business strategy — from supporting new product development and capital investment to reducing exposure to geopolitical risk and supply chain disruption. They are often accountable for international supplier networks, complex negotiations, and driving ESG improvements across the value chain.
How Adderleys Can Help
At Adderleys, we understand that recruiting a Procurement Director is about more than buying expertise — it’s about appointing a business leader who can influence strategy, build strong internal and external relationships, and unlock commercial value. Since 1991, we’ve helped organisations across the UK identify and appoint senior procurement professionals through a search process built on insight, rigour, and deep market knowledge. Here’s how we support successful procurement leadership appointments:
Strategic Procurement Expertise: We identify leaders who bring experience in shaping procurement strategy, aligning procurement to business goals, and transforming cost centres into value-adding functions.
Contract and Supplier Management: From global contract negotiations to supplier development and performance monitoring, we focus on candidates who can drive measurable outcomes across the supply base.
Cross-Functional Influence: The best Procurement Directors work hand-in-hand with finance, operations, legal, and sustainability teams. We assess candidates on their ability to build consensus, manage stakeholders, and lead cross-functional initiatives.
Risk and Resilience Leadership: We look for professionals with experience in managing supply chain risk, compliance, and continuity — especially in complex, multi-site or international settings.
Technology and Process Improvement: From eProcurement and SRM systems to lean processes and digitisation, we prioritise candidates who understand how to use tools and data to optimise spend and improve decision-making.
Our Unique Approach
What sets Adderleys apart is our ability to combine national reach with regional knowledge, connecting organisations with procurement leaders who are technically strong, strategically capable, and culturally aligned. While many executive search firms are focused on London and the South East, we have built long-standing relationships across the UK’s regional markets — helping clients find senior procurement professionals with the experience and local insight they need.
Whether you’re appointing a Procurement Director for a single-site operation or a global enterprise, we tailor our approach to your industry, structure, and goals. We understand the specific challenges that come with sourcing in regulated environments, managing supplier diversity, and embedding ESG priorities into procurement policy.
Our network includes senior procurement leaders from sectors such as packaging, FMCG, industrials, retail, construction, and the public sector — many of whom have led transformation programmes, international sourcing strategies, and supplier performance frameworks.
At Adderleys, we believe procurement should be a strategic driver of business success. And we’re here to help you appoint a Procurement Director who can deliver lasting value, both commercially and operationally.