Im Mittelstand entscheidet die Person. Im Konzern oft der Prozess. Was bedeutet das für Sie als Führungskraft?

Ulrich Simon, Head of Purchasing Klettgau bei Bucher Hydraulics, hat den Wechsel vom Konzern in den Mittelstand nicht aus Enttäuschung gemacht, sondern aus Neugier.

Nach gut 20 Jahren in Konzernstrukturen wollte er erleben, wie Mittelstand wirklich ist. Was er vorgefunden hat, ist vielschichtiger als erwartet.
Im Mittelstand fallen Entscheidungen schneller, Engagement ist sichtbarer, Verantwortung liegt näher an der Person. Gleichzeitig sind Prozessstandards spärlicher und standortübergreifende Koordination und Interaktion überschaubar.
Für Ulrich ist das kein Defizit, sondern eine willkommene Führungsaufgabe: Wo braucht Einkauf mehr Struktur, und wo würde zu viel Struktur genau jene Beweglichkeit zerstören, die den Mittelstand stark macht?


In dieser Episode erfahren Sie:
1) Warum im Mittelstand Führung stärker an der Person hängt als an Prozessen, und wie man sich darauf vorbereitet.
2) Wie Entscheidungsgeschwindigkeit im Mittelstand Einkaufsführung konkret verändert, und wo das neue Risiken schafft.
3) Warum Lieferantenbeziehungen im Mittelstand stärker an Vertrauen hängen als an institutioneller Stellung.
4) Wie Führungskräfte KI und Automatisierung einführen, ohne die Organisation zu verlieren.
5) Welchen Fehler fast jede Führungskraft macht, die Konzepte aus dem Konzern direkt überträgt.

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Ulrich Simon tauscht sich gerne über Einkaufsführung im Mittelstand aus, über Prozessreife, Führungswechsel und den Unterschied, den Struktur wirklich macht.

Vernetzen Sie sich mit ihm auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uli-simon/

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Carsten Metzger ist Co-CEO der FMA Mechatronic Solutions und Präsident des Zürcher Chapters der LEADERS IN PROCUREMENT Community. Im engen Austausch mit CPOs und Procurement Executives erlebt er dabei täglich, wie sich der Einkauf neu positioniert - zwischen wachsender strategischer Verantwortung und steigender Entscheidungsdynamik auf Top-Management-Ebene.

Mit dem LEADERS IN PROCUREMENT Podcast öffnet Carsten bewusst den Raum für diese Realität mit ungeschönten Einblicken, persönlichen Erfahrungen und strategischen Perspektiven von Führungskräften, die Procurement aktiv gestalten.

Vernetzen Sie sich mit Carsten auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carstenmetzger/ 

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 limits
2. How collaboration creates value that price pressure never can
3. What project procurement fundamentally changes about cost control
4. Why total cost and execution matter more than unit price
5. How Procurement can stay in control when every project is different

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Get in touch with Mario Meyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-meyer-304121150/


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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/

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 instead
2. How to start small and scale AI responsibly
3. How to turn risk and opportunity into measurable business value
4. How to orchestrate agents across business functions
5. Why empathy remains Procurement’s ultimate advantage

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Get in touch with Salvatore Lombardo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salva-lombardo/


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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/

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 growth
2. Why collaboration often beats centralised buying for real results
3. How AI helps uncover opportunities before they reach the boardroom
4. What right-sized capability looks like in agile, fast-moving organisations
5. How PE’s value creation mindset helps procurement prove its business impact

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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/


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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/ 

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 partner
2. Why strategic coverage outperforms savings as a steering KPI
3. The role of stakeholder engagement in driving lasting change
4. What makes performance management with contractors effective
5. Practical lessons from digitising and simplifying procurement processes

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Get in touch with Niels Walberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niels-walberg-023308b0/


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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/

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 digitalisation
2. How to leverage “digital heroes” to drive cultural change
3. Practical strategies for navigating global supply chain risks
4. How supplier collaboration builds true resilience
5. Why Scope 3 emissions should become a core Procurement KPI

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Get in touch with Kai Dittberner, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-dittberner-13b8aa29/


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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/

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 start
2. Why cultural change is harder and more important than system implementation
3. How automation drives compliance, risk management, and sustainability
4. Where the biggest financial gains come from in digital procurement
5. What to prioritise post-rollout to improve adoption and user experience

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Get in touch with Karl Poulsen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-poulsen-a6bb2112/


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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/

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 trust
2. Why people, culture and leadership matter as much as processes
3. How to move from “order writing” to enabling business success
4. How end-to-end structures and KPIs deliver speed and recognition
5. How to grow supplier partnerships into long-term success factors

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Get in touch with Barbara Stolle-Amedick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-stolle-amedick-45a381156/

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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/

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 volatility
2. What it takes to build a resilient culture—staying true to the long-term ambition while managing the short-term realities
3. How calm, transparent leadership drives focus and clarity when disruption strikes
4. How true supplier collaboration creates value and resilience in an unpredictable market

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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/1647825407

Learn 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/

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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/ 

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 environments
2. How to build a high-performing team after a crisis of trust
3. Dieter’s strategy to stay the course: team, clarity and partnerships
4. How to create impact by reducing complexity and strengthening collaboration
5. Why modern procurement needs early and deep supplier collaboration


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Get in touch with Dieter Dehoorne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dieter-dehoorne-48885623/


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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/