PURCHASING MANAGER – EUROPE, GLOBAL OPERATIONS ELASTOMERS TRELLEBORG SEALING SOLUTIONS UK, 30

Wakelin began his career as a graduate trainee at Rolls-Royce in 2001. He excelled on the scheme, achieving CIPS membership by 25, and was offered a rare opportunity to become a value engineer in the parametric cost modelling team. It was highly unusual for a graduate to be taken on in such a role.

His cost models saved the company millions in various categories of spend and he then moved to Marks & Spencer’s head office in London. At M&S he was responsible for improving purchasing procedures for non-retail goods and the company was sad to lose him when he moved to his home town of Worcester to work for Trelleborg. He is taking the global engineering company down a world-class purchasing route and achieving high-cost savings.

Described as a “great leader”, personable and with an exceptional natural ability to take his colleagues and team with him by means of charisma alone, he is expected to be a CPO of the future.