30 October 2006 | Rebecca Ellinor

Mark Pedlingham has been named as the new head of the Government Procurement Service (GPS).

The GPS was set up in 1999 to improve procurement in the public sector by ensuring central government purchasers have the right skills, experience and qualifications. It also aims to provide members with best practice guidance, training, career development and information on job opportunities.

Pedlingham is also director of strategic supplier relations at the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). He was previously director of general logistics procurement at the Ministry of Defence.

He replaces Martin Sykes, the former head of the GPS, who was also executive director of smarter procurement at the OGC. As reported by supplymanagement.com, Sykes left the OGC to become chief executive of Value Wales - a position he took up this month.

Sally Collier is assuming the role and duties of executive director of smarter procurement and will be filling Sykes' position on the OGC board.

The GPS was the first organisation to join a new education and networking association, established by CIPS with the support of the OGC, which is aimed at all public sector purchasers. The Public Sector Faculty will share best practice, encourage innovation, develop skills and help to raise the profile of procurement. The official launch is next month.

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