New Head of Procurement joins SUMS Group

(2-minute read)

The SUMS Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Gemma Payne to the role of Head of Procurement, providing operational leadership of Procurement Category team to deliver strategic procurement initiatives.

Gemma is joining SUMS Group from Sovereign Housing Association, a registered Charity where she worked as a senior manager. Gemma managed a team of 5 Category Managers and looked after Property Services and Development Stakeholder requirements with over £100m per annum addressable spend. She also delivered procurement initiatives to the business, which contributed to achieving the strategic goals including but not limited to category management, contract management, sourcing and SRM.

Leigh Kopec, Head of SUPC, said: “We are delighted to have Gemma join the SUMS Group as Head of Procurement. Gemma’s senior management experience and procurement knowledge will be key in helping our organisation to deliver greater value for our members. Her wealth of experience in the sector will support the team as our organisation continues to grow. We’re excited to have her on board to help drive the SUMS Group vision.”

Commenting on her new position, Gemma said: “I am very excited to be joining the SUMS Group. Having worked with several public sector frameworks, I’m looking forward to working in partnership with our members and as part of the SUPC team to optimise the use of our frameworks through effective strategic sourcing opportunities.”

As the HE centre for procurement excellence, this year SUPC has focused on seeking innovative solutions with a more commercial focus, expanding and upskilling our team of experts. Our investment in the team continues with Gemma’s appointment as Head of Procurement.

To find out more about how SUMS Group can support your institution, or to contact Leigh or any other member of the team, email supc@reading.ac.uk