Tim Bullock of NATS on the value of camaraderie in relationship management
The vision and drive to take an already high performing service to a leading class level takes energy, strategic thinking and great influencing skills. So said one of the judges about Tim Bullock, director of supply chain at air navigation service provider NATS, who won CIPS Procurement and supply professional of the year at the CIPS Supply Management Awards 2017. SM caught up with Bullock to hear what others can learn from his award-winning approach.
Relationships are everything
At NATS, relationships with suppliers and partners can sometimes “last longer than marriages”. “How you deliver value is not about a single negotiation, it’s about having a sustained relationship, which means having tough conversations when you need to,” Bullock says. Dedicated relationship managers look after key suppliers.