Neil Deverill
Between 1990 and 2008, Neil was first the corporate head of purchasing at Electrolux Sweden, before joining the UK Treasury as head of UK government purchasing. He later became the corporate head of worldwide procurement for Philips Electronics, based in The Netherlands, and finally group head of procurement for Anglo American based in Johannesburg and then London.
From this author:
Inside view: Should have used should-cost
In 1990, I didn't know there was a should-cost calculation for anything. In fact, I hadn't even heard the phrase. What I mean is that I wasn't consciously aware that the company I worked for was probably overpaying for everything.
17:32, 16 Apr, 2009
Inside view: The average CPO
Over the past few months, I have witnessed several examples of CPOs either in denial or very busy with displacement activities when asked to consider how good their operation is. Of course, they know better than I, but as I travel around I observe the same issues coming up over and over again; talent, internal cooperation, real supplier collaboration, how to oversee a greening of the supply chain and, of course, most recently, how to stay in business.
11:26, 12 Feb, 2009
Inside view: Don’t miss the train
There’s a new type of procurement professional – someone who not only has extensive experience of your business, but also knows your suppliers’ industry inside out and has all the right contacts to help get the best deals. But then you knew that already, didn’t you?
17:03, 16 Dec, 2008
Inside view: Let the cull begin
An economic recession provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for procurement professionals to step up and demonstrate their worth to the wider business. But if they're not on top of their game, they could face a very uncomfortable time indeed.
09:30, 22 Oct, 2008
Inside view: A care in the world
With profit before sustainability still the prevailing business imperative, it will take a fundamental shift in consumer and shareholder attitudes to empower even the most socially responsible CPO to adopt sustainable procurement strategies.
12:39, 27 Aug, 2008
Inside view: Whose line is it anyway?
You look to the executive you report to to back you up and push your procurement business case submissions on the board. But the truth of the matter is that a CPO’s leadership and influencing skills are more important than the actual reporting line.
16:45, 16 Jun, 2008
Inside view: Morals – what morals?
It’s the strangest thing. No-one, it seems, has been subjected to bribery or corruption in their role as a procurement professional. But Neil Deverill doesn’t believe a word of it – and until CPOs come clean, we can’t have a proper debate.
16:33, 16 Apr, 2008
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