24 September | Helen Gilbert

Sainsbury’s has a new head of procurement following the departure of David Brooks, who has joined the finance operation.

Nicki Perrott, who has spent the past three years as head of construction and FM procurement at the UK supermarket chain, has previously worked in buying roles for Masterfoods, United Biscuits and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Brooks stepped into his new role as head of finance operations on 6 September. During his three years as procurement head, he helped initiate a transformation project that lifted the buying team’s ranking to “world class”, in the Hackett Group’s independent benchmark published in June.

Speaking after the rating, Perrott told SM: “If you can show the team the progress you’re making and keep them excited, you’ve got a much better chance of retaining them.”

The supermarket giant went from being classed as an “efficient” organisation two years ago to one that is now both efficient and effective, without assistance from external consultants. It also saved millions of pounds, but would not give details.

In 2009, Sainsbury’s scooped two CIPS/Supply Management Awards – best contribution to corporate responsibility and also the overall prize for its project to divert all its food waste from landfill.