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Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast

Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast

Hosted by Richard Mc Intosh / Martina Buchhauser / Mike Jansen

BusinessManagementInterviews guests

Episodes

25

Latest episode

Feb 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast delivers industry-leading insights and trends to propel your organisation’s procurement strategy forward. Hosted by Richard McIntosh and Mike Jansen, Partners at H&Z, and Senior Advisor Martina Buchhauser, this show is the go-to resource for every CPO looking to up their game. Join Richard, Martina and Mike as they sit down with industry leaders and experts to uncover the latest trends and insights in procurement, from exploring the transformative power of technology, data, digitisation and AI, to unraveling the complexities of leadership, competencies and talent management. Discover strategies for cost reduction and value creation, gain a deeper understanding of the impact of inflation, the economy, and geopolitics, and learn how to build resilient supply chains while effectively managing risks. We also delve into the crucial topics of ESG and the circular economy, exploring their implications for procurement leaders. Tune in to the Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast to unlock the knowledge and expertise you need to stay at the cutting-edge of the industry and drive meaningful change within your organisation.

Listen to episodes

25 recent
February 24, 2026Episode 2550 min

Ep. 25 - Why Negotiation Alone No Longer Drives Procurement Value - with Mario Meyer

The biggest procurement myth? That better negotiations automatically create better results.Host Mike Jansen speaks with Mario Meyer, CPO and Head of Global Quality for the Division Plants at Ammann Group, about why classic negotiation tactics often hit a hard ceiling, and where Procurement leaders should focus instead.Mario challenges the idea that value is won at the negotiation table. Drawing on real examples from Ammann’s project-driven environment, he explains how deeper collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders unlocks value that price pressure alone never delivers.This way of thinking becomes especially critical in project procurement, where complexity is the norm rather than the exception. With up to half of Ammann’s asphalt and concrete mixing plants customised, Mario shares how his team manages cost, risk and timelines without relying on serial-production logic or simplistic savings metrics.You’ll learn:1. Why negotiation-driven saving approaches quickly hit their structural limits2. How collaboration creates value that price pressure never can3. What project procurement fundamentally changes about cost control4. Why total cost and execution matter more than unit price5. How Procurement can stay in control when every project is different___________Get in touch with Mario Meyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-meyer-304121150/___________About the host Mike Jansen:Mike Jansen is Partner at H&Z Management Consulting with over a decade of experience enhancing the value that procurement delivers to organisations. Driven by a passion for tackling challenges, Mike thrives on competition—whether with others or himself. Outside of work, Mike enjoys quality time with his wife and children.Get in touch with Mike Jansen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansen-mike/

December 3, 2025Episode 241 hr 12 min

Ep. 24 – Striking the Balance Between AI Hesitation and Hype in Procurement – with Salvatore Lombardo

Avoiding the “AI stamp" trap in Procurement starts with one mindset shift: orchestrate AI, don’t just adopt it.In this episode, host Mike Jansen speaks with Salvatore Lombardo, CPTO at Coupa, about how procurement leaders can turn AI into a true business driver.Salvatore explains why too many teams chase artificial intelligence for visibility rather than value, and what it takes to build sustainable impact instead. He breaks down how to move from scattered “one agent per pain point” initiatives to orchestrated AI ecosystems that connect data, workflows and people.Drawing on Coupa’s real-world client successes, including a €25M saving achieved by Uber through AI-driven spend analysis, Salvatore reveals how to start small, measure what matters, and keep empathy and human judgement at the centre of decision-making.You’ll learn:1. Why performative AI adoption fails and what to do instead2. How to start small and scale AI responsibly3. How to turn risk and opportunity into measurable business value4. How to orchestrate agents across business functions5. Why empathy remains Procurement’s ultimate advantage___________Get in touch with Salvatore Lombardo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salva-lombardo/___________About the host Mike Jansen:Mike Jansen is Partner at H&Z Management Consulting with over a decade of experience enhancing the value that procurement delivers to organisations. Driven by a passion for tackling challenges, Mike thrives on competition—whether with others or himself. Outside of work, Mike enjoys quality time with his wife and children.Get in touch with Mike Jansen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansen-mike/

November 20, 2025Episode 2333 min

Ep. 23 – How Private Equity Redefines Procurement Value – with Will Harman

In private equity, the smartest procurement move isn’t scaling spend. It's scaling insight.In this episode, host Richard McIntosh speaks with Will Harman, Founder & CEO of Trusted Value Creation and former Global Margin Expansion Lead at Apax Partners.Will shares how private equity turns procurement into one of its most powerful levers for value creation. Drawing on his experience managing $12 billion in annual spend across 85 portfolio companies, he explains how PE firms create margin improvement through data-driven insight, precise timing, and selective intervention, instead of bulk buying.From AI tools that turn spend data into opportunity maps to peer networks that unlock scale without complexity, Will shows why intelligent collaboration outperforms traditional cost-cutting. His perspective challenges procurement leaders to think differently, using PE’s focused, results-driven model to deliver measurable value and long-term business impact.You’ll learn:1. How private equity turns procurement into a core driver of profit and growth2. Why collaboration often beats centralised buying for real results3. How AI helps uncover opportunities before they reach the boardroom4. What right-sized capability looks like in agile, fast-moving organisations5. How PE’s value creation mindset helps procurement prove its business impact___________Get in touch with Will Harman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-harman-a20ab41/Learn more about Trusted Value Creation: https://trustedvaluecreation.com/___________About the host Richard McIntosh:Richard McIntosh, Partner at H&Z Management Consulting, has spent over 23 years helping procurement leaders succeed. Richard is an avid rugby fan, and a children's rugby coach, with a passion for helping children to become their best selves through sports. He spends his time outside of work with his wife and children. Get in touch with Richard McIntosh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcintosh-richard/ ___________The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.

November 5, 2025Episode 221 hr 15 min

Ep. 22 - Beyond ‘Your Wish Is My Command’: Elevating Procurement to a Strategic Partner - with Niels Walberg

If Procurement is still a ‘your wish is my command’ function at your company, you’re leaving value on the table.In this episode, host Mike Jansen speaks with Niels Walberg, CPO at K+S Aktiengesellschaft. With over 25 years in procurement, Niels shares how he’s driving the shift from reactive service provider to strategic partner at a €1.5 billion spend organisation.He explains why clear KPIs and supplier performance management matter, why stakeholder buy-in is the true lever for lasting change, and how Procurement can embed itself into complex CapEx projects to deliver real business value.You’ll learn:1. How Procurement can shift from service provider to strategic partner2. Why strategic coverage outperforms savings as a steering KPI3. The role of stakeholder engagement in driving lasting change4. What makes performance management with contractors effective5. Practical lessons from digitising and simplifying procurement processes___________Get in touch with Niels Walberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niels-walberg-023308b0/___________About the host Mike Jansen:Mike Jansen is Partner at H&Z Management Consulting with over a decade of experience enhancing the value that procurement delivers to organisations. Driven by a passion for tackling challenges, Mike thrives on competition—whether with others or himself. Outside of work, Mike enjoys quality time with his wife and children.Get in touch with Mike Jansen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansen-mike/

October 22, 2025Episode 2143 min

Ep. 21 – Building Procurement Resilience in a Volatile, Digital Age – with Kai Dittberner

Digitalisation succeeds when people lead the change, not just the tools.In this episode, host Mike Jansen speaks with Kai Dittberner, VP Global Procurement at Giesecke+Devrient, about how Procurement at the global security technology company has evolved to drive resilience, innovation, and ESG impact.He explains why successful digitalisation depends on strong processes and people engagement, how G+D leveraged “digital heroes” to embed change, and why regional diversification and supplier collaboration are must-haves in a fractured geopolitical environment. Kai also makes the case for ESG to become a measurable KPI in Procurement, with Scope 3 emissions one day sitting alongside savings and spend.You’ll learn:1. Why strong processes must come before digitalisation2. How to leverage “digital heroes” to drive cultural change3. Practical strategies for navigating global supply chain risks4. How supplier collaboration builds true resilience5. Why Scope 3 emissions should become a core Procurement KPI___________Get in touch with Kai Dittberner, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-dittberner-13b8aa29/___________About the host Mike Jansen:Mike Jansen is Partner at H&Z Management Consulting with over a decade of experience enhancing the value that procurement delivers to organisations. Driven by a passion for tackling challenges, Mike thrives on competition—whether with others or himself. Outside of work, Mike enjoys quality time with his wife and children.Get in touch with Mike Jansen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansen-mike/

October 8, 2025Episode 2033 min

Ep. 20 - Driving Procurement Excellence through Digitalisation at Scale - with Karl Poulsen

Procurement transformation isn't just about systems. It's about scale, culture, and strategy.In this episode, host Richard McIntosh speaks with Karl Poulsen, CPO at Hiscox, about leading a greenfield procurement transformation by leveraging digital tools not just to modernise, but to embed excellence at scale.Karl shares how he moved the organisation from spreadsheets and silos to a centralised, tech-enabled function. He explains how automation, governance, and scalability were built with compliance in mind—but designed to support consistency and growth across a complex, international business. From reducing a 10,000-supplier sprawl to navigating cultural change across regions, Karl reveals what it takes to turn procurement into a true engine of business value—and why the hardest part wasn’t the technology, but shifting mindsets and ways of working.You’ll learn:1. How to build a business case for procurement tech from a greenfield start2. Why cultural change is harder and more important than system implementation3. How automation drives compliance, risk management, and sustainability4. Where the biggest financial gains come from in digital procurement5. What to prioritise post-rollout to improve adoption and user experience___________Get in touch with Karl Poulsen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-poulsen-a6bb2112/___________About the host Richard McIntosh:Richard McIntosh, Partner at H&Z Management Consulting, has spent over 23 years helping procurement leaders succeed. Richard is an avid rugby fan, and a children's rugby coach, with a passion for helping children to become their best selves through sports. He spends his time outside of work with his wife and children. Get in touch with Richard McIntosh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcintosh-richard/ ___________The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.

September 24, 2025Episode 1952 min

Ep. 19 - Beyond Processes: Why People and Leadership Define Supply Chain Impact - with Barbara Stolle-Amedick

When you relish the hard problems, courage, culture and vision turn challenges into the spark of business success.In this episode, host Martina Buchhauser speaks with Barbara Stolle-Amedick, Global Head of Supply Chain Management, Transformers Business at Hitachi Energy, about the journey of repositioning procurement inside a 100-year-old organisation.Barbara explains how her team moved beyond being seen as “order writers” to becoming recognised as business enablers. She shares how silos were broken down and replaced with a truly end-to-end organisation, why culture and leadership proved just as vital as process and KPIs, and how recognition was built step by step, both internally and externally.This is a story of transformation driven not by big-bang change, but by consistency, transparency, and the courage to push for more. It shows how procurement can thrive as a trusted partner and become a key driver of company-wide success.You’ll learn:1. How transparency, vision and courage can dismantle silos and build trust2. Why people, culture and leadership matter as much as processes3. How to move from “order writing” to enabling business success4. How end-to-end structures and KPIs deliver speed and recognition5. How to grow supplier partnerships into long-term success factors___________Get in touch with Barbara Stolle-Amedick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-stolle-amedick-45a381156/___________About the host Martina Buchhauser:Martina Buchhauser is a global leader with extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, and its shift towards sustainable technologies and low-carbon business practices. Her leadership journey includes executive roles in Global Procurement and Supply Chain Networks at General Motors, MAN, BMW, and Volvo Cars, where she served as Chief Procurement Officer and on the management board. She is a senior advisor at H&Z Management Consulting and a non-executive director on several company boards. Martina enjoys hiking, golfing, and skiing, and values time with her family and friends from around the world. She is passionate about leadership and actively engaged in developing and promoting talent.Get in touch with Martina Buchhauser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-buchhauser/ ___________The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.

August 6, 2025Episode 1824 min

Ep. 18 - Continuous Reinvention: Navigating Volatility in Procurement Leadership - with Gaël De Martelaere

Navigating a volatile world with a calm mindset, a collaborative spirit, and a drive for continuous reinvention—that's what true procurement leadership is all about.In this episode, host Richard McIntosh sits down with Gaël De Martelaere, Head of Direct Procurement at Dow, for a candid exploration of how procurement can thrive in times of disruption and transformation.Gaël unpacks Dow’s journey as it shifts from relentless cost-out and pandemic-era capacity scrambles to a new era of collaborative, digitally enabled cost reduction. He reveals how a culture built on sustainability, innovation, and inclusion continues to endure, even when the market demands resilience above all.You’ll learn:1. How agile, digital procurement adapts to margin pressure and supply volatility2. What it takes to build a resilient culture—staying true to the long-term ambition while managing the short-term realities3. How calm, transparent leadership drives focus and clarity when disruption strikes4. How true supplier collaboration creates value and resilience in an unpredictable market___________Get in touch with Gaël De Martelaere on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaeldemartelaere/Gaël’s book recommendation:Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms by Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak and Paul Swartz | https://www.amazon.de/Shocks-Crises-False-Alarms-Macroeconomic/dp/1647825407Learn more about Women in Logistics, an initiative to promote gender balance in the logistics sector, on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-logistics-eu/ or visit the website https://www.essers.com/women-in-logistics-fostering-male-female-parity/ ___________About the host Richard McIntosh:Richard McIntosh, Partner at H&Z Management Consulting, has spent over 23 years helping procurement leaders succeed. Richard is an avid rugby fan, and a children's rugby coach, with a passion for helping children to become their best selves through sports. He spends his time outside of work with his wife and children. Get in touch with Richard McIntosh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcintosh-richard/ ___________The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.

July 16, 2025Episode 1736 min

Ep. 17 - Staying the Course: Leading Procurement Through Crisis with Clarity and Courage - with Dieter Dehoorne

What if the secret to resilient procurement leadership starts with daring to be vulnerable?In this episode, host Martina Buchhauser speaks with Dieter Dehoorne, Group Senior Vice President and CPO of Global Procurement at Vestas, about the human side of transformation, and what it takes to lead through uncertainty.Dieter shares his leap from Volvo to Vestas, navigating a new industry amid global crisis, and the moment he began to question his leadership for the first time in decades. His story doubles as a playbook: how to stay the course by building a strong team, leading with authenticity, and anchoring the function in trust, strategy, and partnership.You'll learn:1. Why vulnerability can be a leadership strength in complex environments2. How to build a high-performing team after a crisis of trust3. Dieter’s strategy to stay the course: team, clarity and partnerships4. How to create impact by reducing complexity and strengthening collaboration5. Why modern procurement needs early and deep supplier collaboration___________Get in touch with Dieter Dehoorne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dieter-dehoorne-48885623/___________About the host Martina Buchhauser:Martina Buchhauser is a global leader with extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, and its shift towards sustainable technologies and low-carbon business practices. Her leadership journey includes executive roles in Global Procurement and Supply Chain Networks at General Motors, MAN, BMW, and Volvo Cars, where she served as Chief Procurement Officer and on the management board. She is a senior advisor at H&Z Management Consulting and a non-executive director on several company boards. Martina enjoys hiking, golfing, and skiing, and values time with her family and friends from around the world. She is passionate about leadership and actively engaged in developing and promoting talent.Get in touch with Martina Buchhauser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-buchhauser/ ___________The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.

June 25, 2025Episode 161 hr 5 min

Ep. 16 - Splitting Efficiency from Strategy: A Bold Model for Modern Procurement - with Demetrios Kappos

Procurement doesn’t need a rebrand. It needs structure, speed, and people who take ownership.In this episode, host Mike Jansen sits down with Demetrios Kappos, Management Consultant and former VP Global Procurement at EagleBurgmann, to explore how to shift procurement from a reactive service provider to a structured value driver.Demetrios speaks plainly about what works—and what doesn’t. For him, transformation begins by separating operational efficiency from strategic effectiveness. It’s about knowing where buyers truly add value, making bold organisational decisions, and empowering teams to drive change—not wait for it.From practical insights on ERP harmonisation and applying AI as a tool, to clear-headed reflections on leadership, resilience, and volatility, this conversation is as grounded as it is actionable.You'll learn:1. Why splitting operational and strategic roles creates real value2. How to empower teams to lead transformation from within3. The right (and wrong) ways to apply AI in procurement4. What building resilience looks like beyond buzzwords5. How to future-proof procurement with a data- and mission-driven mindset___________Get in touch with Demetrios Kappos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demetrios-kappos-94aa94147/___________About the host Mike Jansen:Mike Jansen is an Associate Partner at H&Z Management Consulting with over a decade of experience enhancing the value that procurement delivers to organisations. Driven by a passion for tackling challenges, Mike thrives on competition—whether with others or himself. Outside of work, Mike enjoys quality time with his wife and children.Get in touch with Mike Jansen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansen-mike/

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