5 August 2010 | Guy Bruce

Guy Bruce speaks about his new role as strategic director of procurement and supply chain at Interserve

A new Interserve

In my new role at Interserve I manage a spend of £500-£700 million a year. I am creating a new procurement and supply chain function to be put into effect from 1 October. This is being reviewed in three stages – people, systems and processes. These will change to increase savings and benefits to the business and to customers. It’s almost like being a consultant as I’m examining a set of problems to execute solutions across the function.

Making plans

Up until now procurement really didn’t make a difference to the organisation. But next year it will make a measurable impact on the business’s performance and profit.

We also have plans to move away from lots of small relationships to partnerships with larger long-term suppliers, to work collaboratively with our customers and be generally more sophisticated in our processes.

My big break

I joined Pactive Corporation in 1999 as UK purchasing manager following its acquisition of three UK manufacturers. I was appointed to review all UK supply chain operations and carry out a 12-month realignment programme. 

In 2002 Pactive Corporation gave me a European role based in Holland and asked me to replicate the UK model across 13 sites in nine countries. This programme was culturally complex as each country was previously autonomous and we had to create a single standard organisation. Doing business in Italy is completely different from doing business in Germany in its decision-making and how you influence people.

Career choices

If I could change anything about my career I would have done my MBA earlier and spent a year as a consultant earlier on as it gives you a more rounded skills base. But the main skills you will always need are commercial acumen, business intellect, and emotional intelligence.

CV: GUY BRUCE

Job history:

2010: Strategic director - procurement and supply chain, Interserve

2009-2010: Interim procurement and supply chain director, Chrysalis UK Ltd

2006-2009: Group procurement director/commercial and business transformation director, Homeserve plc

2005-2006: Commercial director, Caudwell Communications & Pipex

2004-2005: Group procurement and supply chain director, Caudwell Holdings

2002-2004: Purchasing and supply chain director, Pactiv Corporation, now Pregis in EMEA

Education: MBA (SPM) Birmingham University Business School   

Favourite film: Ocean’s Eleven

Song that sums up procurement: Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Hero: Sir Gerry Robinson

Hobbies: Golf, spending time with my two sons