We are sure that here at Bis Henderson Recruitment, we share a sentiment with the entire logistics recruitment sector in expressing our sadness and sympathy in response to the recent death of group CEO at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), David Noble.
“Making CIPS the highly regarded voice of the profession”
David was already highly accomplished in procurement by the time of his appointment as CEO of CIPS in 2009, having pioneered category management and strategic sourcing at Motorola in the 1980s and served as group supply director at engineering and technology group IMI plc.
He quickly got to work on transforming CIPS into the recognised global voice for the procurement profession, which after less than eight years of his leadership, now has a community of more than 115,000 worldwide, while also advising governments on supply chain sustainability and ethics.
CIPS president Sam Walsh has observed:
“David was very clear on his vision for the procurement profession. He led business and government leaders across the world on his journey, making CIPS the highly regarded voice of the profession that it is today.”
A “warm, sincere and blessed with a dry sense of humour” CEO
As challenging and demanding as he was as a CEO – CIPS director Duncan Brock said: “he was never happier than when he had a problem to solve or a crisis to manage”
He is also remembered by many, including Supply Management consulting editor Paul Simpson, as “warm, sincere and blessed with a dry sense of humour”.
CIPS director Cath Hill has added to the tributes to David, commenting that:
“his passion for the profession – and how it can be good for business and the wider world – was inspirational. He supported me, mentored me, encouraged me and inspired me.”
Driven by his conviction of the difference that procurement can make in the world, David provided moral leadership on supply chain issues, in the process earning invitations to the Vatican, the United Nations and the White House.
The strength of CIPS may be David’s greatest professional legacy, but there can also be no doubt of his commitment to all-round excellence and his belief that supply chains could solve many of the world’s problems. Bis Henderson Recruitment salutes his contribution to the procurement professions and sends its condolences to all who knew him.
