In this episode of CPO Perspective, Richard Beaumont speaks with Sebastian Golby-Meek, Group Head of Procurement at Go-Ahead. Sebastian shares his journey from a graduate trainee at London Underground to leading strategic procurement across multiple transport businesses.

The conversation explores procurement leadership, supplier relationship management, sustainability, public procurement, strategic sourcing, contract management, stakeholder engagement, and the future of the procurement profession.

You'll learn:

✅ How Sebastian built a successful procurement career over 20 years
✅ The importance of supplier collaboration and stakeholder management
✅ Why procurement is about creating value—not just reducing costs
✅ How sustainability is reshaping procurement strategy
✅ Lessons from managing billion-pound transport procurements
✅ The role of contract management in procurement success
✅ Advice for procurement professionals looking to advance their careers
✅ How procurement teams can deliver measurable business impact

Whether you're a procurement manager, sourcing specialist, supply chain professional, CPO, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights into modern procurement and leadership.

Guest: Sebastian Golby-Meek
Host: Richard Beaumont

Connect With Sebastian Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-golby-meek/

#Procurement #SupplyChain #StrategicSourcing #ProcurementLeadership #SupplierManagement #ContractManagement #Sustainability #SupplyChainManagement #CPO #BusinessLeadership #ProcurementCareer #PublicProcurement #ProcurementStrategy #Leadership #BusinessGrowth
procurement, sustainability, leadership, career development, supplier collaboration, transport industry, commercial management, strategic procurement, public sector, Go Ahead

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– Richard and The CPO Perspective podcast team

Connect with Richard Beaumont on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richardbeaumont
Visit the Beaumont Procurement website here: https://beaumontprocurement.com

#thecpoperspective #richardbeaumont #procurementleadership #cpo #procurementjudgement #decisionmaking #strategicprocurement #procurementtransformation #chiefprocurementofficer #supplychainleadership #procurementstrategy #aiinprocurement #procurementprofessionals #businessleadership #influenceatwork Procurement has never had better tools, data, or analysis — yet when decisions are challenged, the hardest part is rarely technical. The CPO Perspective explores what actually separates high-performing procurement teams from the rest: judgement, influence, and the ability to make decisions that hold up under real scrutiny.

Hosted by Richard Beaumont — former Army Officer, McKinsey consultant, and Chief Procurement Officer — this podcast is for procurement professionals who want to move beyond operational efficiency and build the kind of credibility, leadership, and ownership that earns genuine board-level trust.