JAGGAER appoints Mark Roberts as UK Public Sector Director

Procurement systems vendor JAGGAER has announced the appointment of Mark Roberts as its UK Public Sector Director.

Roberts, who previously served as the Commercial Director for the Metropolitan Police Service in London, will now lead the UK Public Sector strategy for JAGGAER, focusing on Central and Local Government. This appointment aligns with JAGGAER's strategy to deepen its commitment to serving the UK public sector by helping institutions leverage technological tools effectively.

"Joining an organization so firmly committed to enabling public services is a natural fit given my previous experience in the public sector," stated Roberts. "I look forward to leveraging my expertise in delivering value through the successful implementations of strategic sourcing, category management, contract management, supplier relationship management, social value, and systems to benefit UK public institutions."

Roberts brings with him extensive experience in public sector procurement. Before his tenure at the Metropolitan Police Service, he served as the Commercial Continuous Improvement Director for the Government Commercial Function. His experience in these roles has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the processes and challenges faced by governmental procurement departments.

In the private sector, Roberts gained procurement leadership experience at Vodafone and Anheuser-Busch InBev, where he managed the Global eSourcing programme, notably executing over 30,000 eAuctions annually. His experience designing and implementing new operating models has marked him as a collaborative leader adept at managing transformation in both private and public sectors.

Simon Thompson, Vice President Northern Europe at JAGGAER, commented on the timing and significance of Roberts' appointment: "In the UK, JAGGAER has a long history of serving the Public Sector and we're thrilled to now have Mark on board as his experience will help us continue to tailor our support and investment in the sector to help it achieve greater efficiencies and efficacy."

Thompson further noted the relevance of this appointment in the context of ongoing challenges in the public sector: "The appointment is ideally timed as the public sector tries to successfully balance constrained budgets, delivery of key public services, and the opportunities provided by the introduction of the new UK Procurement Bill in February 2025."

Roberts steps into the role at a crucial time, as the UK government seeks to address significant public debt levels and implement an ambitious programme of public service reform. The upcoming Procurement Bill, set to be introduced in 2025, aims to broaden public procurement to include more small businesses and social enterprises. In this climate, ensuring value for money will be essential for effectively allocating taxpayers' funds to frontline services.