Procurement has a reputation problem, but what if it could become one of the most strategic, human-led functions in a modern business?

In this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast, we sit down with Darren Bosman, an experienced procurement leader who has built and scaled functions across continents and industries. From South Africa and the Seychelles to the UK, Darren brings a global perspective shaped by fintech, professional services and high-growth organisations. He is currently Head of Procurement at Tide, where he is helping the business scale through better systems, stronger stakeholder partnerships and a clear route to commercial value.

Darren shares practical insight into what it really takes to set up procurement in fast-growing businesses, how to overcome the “procurement as police” stereotype, and why trust and stakeholder experience matter more than perfect processes. The conversation also explores centralised versus decentralised models, supplier relationships, hiring the right talent, and how AI is reshaping procurement by removing admin and elevating strategic impact.

This episode is full of grounded advice, real-world examples and a refreshing take on where the profession is heading.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by Omnea.

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What The Episode Covers

• Setting up procurement functions in scaling businesses
• Overcoming negative perceptions of procurement
• Building trust with stakeholders and suppliers
• Centralised vs centre-led procurement models
• Managing resistance to change
• Why procurement skills are highly transferable
• Simplifying procurement processes and language
• The role of AI in automating admin and enabling strategy
• What Darren looks for when hiring procurement talent
• The future of procurement as a value-driving function

Chapters

00:00 – Who is Darren Bosman and what is his background?

01:00 – What are the biggest challenges when building procurement from scratch?

03:00 – How do you change negative perceptions of procurement?

05:20 – When should a business move from decentralised to centre-led procurement?

08:15 – How do you manage resistance while maintaining supplier relationships?

13:45 – Are procurement skills transferable across industries and regions?

18:05 – What lessons and advice have shaped your career most?

20:00 – How will AI and technology reshape procurement roles?

24:00 – What does the future look like for procurement and your team at Tide?