Announcement from Julie Crombie – Group Purchasing Manager

Joining the Sertec Group at the end of September 2017, has been another positive step to my career path in procurement management. Having started out as an expeditor many years ago and working my way up through the ranks of Buyer, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Director, always in a manufacturing environment and predominantly in the Automotive Industry. The knowledge and experience I bring to Sertec is a perfect alignment with the Sertec vision and as part of the improvement and development strategy for the Purchasing Department, there are a number of changes that I would like to make you aware of.

I’ve reviewed the purchase structure which is now concluded and I have completed the strategy to develop the department into a commodity/category management style of purchasing where each manager and buyer is given a number of commodities to manage and effectively becomes the expert in the end to end procurement process for their chosen commodities. Focusing on the pre-award process, NPI, category analysis, demand management, supply market characteristics, sourcing, price negotiations, contract management, performance management and aftermarket.

I attach a copy of the new Purchase Structure for your perusal and it is my intention over the coming weeks to attend each of our sites to formally present the structure, discuss the changes and identify what impact these changes may have in your areas.

To enable the purchasing vision to come to fruition, specialist recruitment has taken place and an internal promotion. To this effect I am extremely pleased to announce the promotion of Bryn Steggles to Group Commodity Manager and I am delighted to welcome Alison Shingles, Group Commodity Manager and Ian Marley, Group Commodity Buyer into the Sertec Group.

Bryn joined Sertec in 2009 as a spot weld engineer before progressing in to a buying role. Bryn found his vocation within the Purchasing department and his career took off leading him to a management secondment at our plant in Estonia for 3 years, where he played a vital role in the day to day management of the plant until its sale in 2014. Bryn’s knowledge and experience in purchasing has enabled him to become the right fit for this promotion and it is thoroughly deserved.

Alison brings to Sertec a wealth of knowledge and experience from her many years in Purchasing; she has spent the past 12 years at Aston Martin at a senior level advancing in Total Delivered Cost, Total Value Management and Powertrain. With her strong automotive background and working within a commodity management structure, Alison has the key attributes which will help her to quickly establish her role in the organisation and she will become a key driver in Sertec’s future.

Ian also has an extensive automotive background, spending his career in the Purchasing function in Buying and Purchasing Management roles for Tier 1 suppliers. He has spent the last 10 years at UYT (CPA), a supplier partially owned by Honda, this means he is fully conversant with the protocols and procedures of a Japanese OEM. Ian’s comprehensive knowledge in BIW, BOP, raw material purchasing and NPI are important skills required to enhance our new purchasing structure.

On behalf of the Sertec Group I would like to congratulate Bryn on his new position and I am delighted to welcome new faces into the Group – wishing you all the very best of luck.

Alison Shingles

Bryn Steggles

Ian Marley

Introducing Matthew Oakley

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Matthew Oakley to the team who joins as ‘Head of Logistics’. Matt is a highly regarded senior logistics professional with expertise in delivering green-field logistics operations and delivering continuous improvement through an operational excellence approach.

Matt will be working closely with Scott Taylor and the rest of the Team to drive operational efficiencies, cost control, and support the continued growth of Sertec.

Matt brings over 15 years of logistics leadership experience to Sertec, having previously worked as a senior manager for Grupo Antolin, Jaguar Land Rover, Royal Mail, and in Logistics consultancy roles.

I am sure that you will all join me in congratulating Matt on his appointment and as ‘one group’ we will work together to make the business even more successful in the future.