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 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/