25 November 2010 | John Fernau

John Fernau, deputy head of procurement at the Olympic 
Delivery Authority, says senior support for buying is key

The day job

I am responsible for the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) procurement. This involves approving all our procurement activity through to completion and leading the purchasing team. My team is now down to 10 from about 30 at its peak. The ODA’s budget is £8 billion over four years. We are always trying to reduce that spend – the anticipated final cost is £7.2 billion.

My big break

I heard about a graduate procurement scheme at Crown Agents. I had always enjoyed buying and bargaining. I gained operational experience there but my big break was moving into management consulting and applying this.

Biggest achievement of my career

My biggest achievement is my work at the ODA. We’ve let more than 1,000 contracts, including about 150 major (OJEU) tenders, all without challenge and within timescales. I’ve assured and approved half of that.

How to get a job like mine

Bear in mind three things:

1. Coffee is for closers – keep pushing until the end

2. The devil is in the detail

3. No pressure, no diamonds.

How I work with internal departments and suppliers

We have worked hard at the ODA to gain senior support for procurement, and in return we have built the ODA’s policy aspirations into our processes, which have then fed into contracts.

Procurement function in five years

Procurement will become a principal method for organisations to drive change, for instance in sustainable practice and diversified employment. Public procurement can contribute to a private sector-led economic recovery by opening up lower-tier supply chain opportunities to SMEs.

Future plans

The ODA is going to wind up by 2014 so the test is to find something more challenging than the Olympics!

CV: John Fernau

Job history

Jan 2010–present: Deputy head of procurement, Olympic Delivery Authority

2007–2009: Corporate procurement leader, Olympic Delivery Authority

Jul 2007-Nov 2007: Senior consultant, Hedra

2005-2007: Consultant, Hedra

Apr 2004-Dec 2004: Project manager, Crown Agents

Education: BSc (Hons) Geography, 
Edinburgh University

Favourite TV show: Extreme Fishing with Robson Green

Guiltiest pleasure: Foie gras

Most treasured possession: 
An old Porsche

Greatest fears: Death and unexpected taxes