Dr Paul Ireland

A Highly Experienced & Skilled Business Professional

I have extensive experience in the following business roles:

  Procurement, Category Management and Supply Chain Specialist

  Management Consultant and Programme / Project Manager

  Business and Supply Chain Academic Researcher

In these roles I have developed advanced skills, worked within a large number of global blue chip companies and major public sector organisations, and acquired in-depth working knowledge of a wide range of industries.

My focus in business is always on the development and application of best practice to deliver excellent operational and commercial outcomes and real business value.

About Me

About Me

I am a highly experienced and skilled business professional with extensive experience in senior roles in the areas of business strategy, procurement, category management, supply chain management and strategic sourcing.

My work has always focused on the delivery of real business value. This has involved the development and application of best practice and the establishment and implementation of supply chain transformation initiatives in major organisations.

I have extensive experience of working on wide-ranging projects at a senior level with global blue chip companies and major public sector organisations in a wide range of industries including construction, IT, oil and gas, banking and financial services, aerospace, power and utilities, automotive, retail, food and agriculture, industrial manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.

"My focus is always on the development and application of best practice to deliver excellent operational and commercial outcomes and real business value"

In my management, consultancy and academic roles I have acquired extensive experience and advanced skills, which focus on the analysis, development and implementation of best practices in business. This work has also been disseminated widely through blogs, whitepapers, articles, books and presentations at academic and practitioner conferences.

"Paul has a real strength of character as well as integrity, and an ability to deliver outstanding work under extremely demanding intellectual, customer and time pressures"

Andrew Cox, President Emeritus at International Institute of Advanced Purchasing & Supply

Key Specialisms

  World-Class Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

  Supply Chain Transformation and Change Management

  Advanced Strategic Challenge and Business & Supply Strategy Development


  Advanced Procurement, Contract and Supplier Management

  Development and Dissemination of Best Practice Thinking

  Process Mapping, Assessment, Development and Improvement

  Project and Programme Management

  Supply Chain Risk Analysis and Management


  Competence Assessment, Training and Development

  Industry, Market and Supply Chain Analysis

  Corporate and Individual Benchmarking Against World-Class Standards

  Software and Website Development and Implementation

Key Skills

  Excellent management, leadership and entrepreneurial skills

  Ability to plan, manage, coordinate and financially control complex projects

  Ability to multitask and co-ordinate plans and resources on multiple projects simultaneously


  Highly analytical and logical with an attention to detail and ability to solve complex problems

  Ability to work effectively under pressure in high expectancy and demanding environments and deliver excellent outcomes

  Highly organised, methodical and self-motivated with an ability to work independently

  Very good communicator with excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills


  Creative thinker who is open-minded

  Strong negotiation, influencing and decision-making skills

  Enthusiastic, confident and approachable team player with a proven ability to motivate and lead people

  Excellent IT skills including online solutions and website development and implementation

Advanced Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

Development & Dissemination of Best Practice Thinking

Process Mapping, Analysis, Development & Improvement

Supply Chain Transformation & Change Management

Career Overview

I have a proven track record of delivering real business value in my business management, consultancy and academic research roles.

  Development of world-class procurement, category management and sourcing strategies.

  Delivery of significant cost reductions (4.2 to 32.5% on a very wide range of spend categories).

  Robust execution of the tendering process and supplier negotiation to minimise commercial and operational risks.

  Delivery of additional value improvements (e.g. improved product quality, elimination of key supplier and supply chain risks, improved logistics and delivery, access to product and supply chain innovation, enhanced contractual terms etc.).

  Enhanced business buy-in, stakeholder engagement, demand management and sourcing compliance.

  Detailed understanding of key supply markets and supply chains to inform strategy development and risk management.

  Improved contract and supplier relationship management.

  Development of world-class procurement and sourcing processes and policies.

  Rigorous set-up and use of online sourcing tools to ensure full compliance to relevant procurement regulations.

  Embedded competence development and dissemination of best practice knowledge.

  Management and mentoring of teams/individuals to provide access to resources, networks, insights and best practice thinking.

My Roles

I have worked in many business management, consultancy and academic research roles.

Director and Interim Consultant
Proemptior Consulting (Since 2017)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Major Projects worked on please click here.

Principal Consultant
International Institute for Advanced Purchasing & Supply (Since 2017)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Major Projects worked on please click here.

Director of Corporate Services and Principal Consultant
International Institute for Advanced Purchasing & Supply (2012 - 2017)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Major Projects worked on please click here.

Programme Manager and Lead Consultant
International Institute for Advanced Purchasing & Supply (2010 - 2011)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Major Projects worked on please click here.

Project Manager
Newpoint Consulting (2008 - 2010)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Major Projects worked on please click here.

Senior Consultant
Newpoint Consulting (2002 - 2008)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Major Projects worked on please click here.

Senior Research Fellow
Birmingham Business School University of Birmingham (1996 - 2008)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Research Projects worked on please click here.

Consultant
Robertson Cox Consulting (1997 - 2002)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Major Projects worked on please click here.

Procurement Researcher
ICL Fujitsu (1995 - 1996)

For detail on Key Responsibilities in this role and Research Projects worked on please click here.

"Paul has outstanding analytical and logical skills, with the ability to understand complex commercial scenarios and translate analysis into robust recommendations"

Andrew Cox, President Emeritus at International Institute of Advanced Purchasing & Supply

Academic Qualifications

I am very highly qualified to work in senior business management roles.

PhD Business
Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham (2000 - 2005)

Thesis on 'Supply Chain Management in Construction: An analysis of the appropriateness of proactive Supply Chain Management thinking'.

MBA (Business Strategy & Procurement)
Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham (1996 - 1998)

Award - Distinction
Including specialist modules on Contracting & Negotiation, Supply Chain Management and Advanced Procurement


MSc (Eng) Construction Management
University of Birmingham (1994 - 1995)

Award – Distinction
Including specialist modules on Project Management, Contracting, Risk Management and Financial Management

BEng Civil Engineering
University of Nottingham (1991 - 1994)

Award – Second Class, Division One

Professional Qualifications

FIIAPS
Fellow of the International Institute of Advanced Purchasing & Supply (IIAPS)

Awarded in April 2010

MCIPS
Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

Awarded in July 1998

"Paul is very definitely a team player with a 'can do' attitude and a warm sense of humour. He is a real asset and no one who has worked with him has a bad word to say of him."

Andrew Cox, President Emeritus at International Institute of Advanced Purchasing & Supply

My Books

My work has always focused on the development and implementation of best practice. This has been disseminated widely through books, blogs, whitepapers and articles presented at academic and practitioner conferences.

Value Sourcing: From Spend Management to Supply Management
Amazon Kindle (2015)

For more information click here

Managing in Construction Supply Chains & Markets
Thomas Telford Publishing, London (2006)

For more information click here


Supply Chain Management: A Guide to Best Practice
FT Prentice Hall, London (2003)

For more information click here

The E-Business Report 2001
Earlsgate Press, Stratford-upon-Avon (2001)

For more information click here

Supply Chains, Markets and Power: Managing Buyer and Supplier Power Regimes
Routledge, London (2001)

For more information click here

My Business Blogs

To share my thinking on best practice I have published many business blogs and whitepapers including:

How to Deliver 'Real Business Value'​ from Competence Development
Eradicating Traditional PSCM Qualification & Training Issues

To access this blog on LinkedIn please click here

The Major Causes of Poor Category Management & Strategic Sourcing
Why Many Organisations Achieve Poor Value for Money Outcomes

To access this blog on LinkedIn please click here

Poor Category Management & Strategic Sourcing
Cause 1: Lack of Cross-Functional Involvement & Buy-In

To access this blog on LinkedIn please click here


Poor Category Management & Strategic Sourcing
Solution 1: Solving a Lack of Cross-Functional Involvement & Buy-In

To access this blog on LinkedIn please click here

10 Reasons Why Organisations Make Mistakes When Outsourcing

To access this blog on LinkedIn please click here

The 8 Major Barriers to Effective Internal Demand Management

To access this blog on LinkedIn please click here

My Academic Work

As an academic business researcher I published my work on best practice widely in leading academic journals and book chapters in edited volumes. I also presented conference papers at global academic and practitoner conferences. A selection of my work is presented below, but for a full list of my academic publications please click here.

Overcoming Demand Management Problems: The Scope for Improving Reactive and Proactive Supply Management in the UK Health Service, Journal of Public Procurement, 5 (1), 2005, pp. 1–22.
Sourcing Indirect Spend: A Survey of Current Internal and External Strategies for Non-Revenue-Generating Goods and Services, Journal of Supply Chain Management, 41 (2), 2005, pp. 39–51.
Managing Construction Supply Chains: A Common Sense Approach, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 9 (5/6), 2002, pp. 409–418.
Relationship Management Theories and Tools in Project Procurement, in Pryke, S. and Smyth, H. (eds.), The Management of Complex Projects: A Relationship Approach (Blackwell Publishing, London, 2006: pp. 251–281).
The Problem of Win-Win in Project-Based Supply Chains: A Framework for Effective Relationship Management and Performance Optimisation, Proceedings of the 4th Worldwide Research Symposium on Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, 6-8 April, 2006, San Diego, California, USA.
Current Procurement and Supply Management Practices in the NHS: Missed Opportunities and the Misalignment of Demand and Supply, British Academy of Management Annual Conference, 31 August-1 September, 2004, St Andrews.

Contact

Please contact me if you would like any more information

About Me