5 Minutes With Andy Ernest, VP of Procurement for National Grid

Today marks International Procurement Day, and I recently had the pleasure of spending time with Andy Ernest, VP of Procurement for Electricity Transmission and Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid. We discussed his extensive experience working with major global companies such as Ford, Vodafone, and Shell, leading up to his current role at National Grid. He also shared how he and his family have enjoyed living and working abroad, and how these experiences have shaped him both personally and professionally.

Tell me a little about your journey in procurement.

Right from a young age, I’ve always had a curious and adventurous mind whether that was playing with Lego as a child or a growing interest in current affairs and geopolitics as I’ve got older. This grew whilst at University with a focus on how I can influence and make a difference, procurement seemed to jump off the page for me. The essence of relationships and an analytical approach suited my personality – both of which remain critical skillsets for any procurement professional to possess.

I was fortunate to join the Ford procurement graduate scheme in 2001 which gave me a fantastic grounding and appreciation of the criticality of procurement in a fast paced manufacturing environment. Looking back Ford gave their graduates a tremendous amount of training and development, but with that came responsibility. The business was very good at fostering growth and opportunity whilst also allowing you the opportunity to get things wrong from time to time – this is something that has stuck with me throughout my career, especially  as I grew into leadership roles.

After 4 hugely enjoyable years with Ford I left to join Vodafone in 2005 to continue my journey in procurement. This move saw me transition from production buying into indirects for the first time and a wonderful opportunity to learn how to demonstrate value in a non-production category area. Different culture and different approach to procurement, with Vodafone being more integrated with greater connectivity to colleagues on a global basis, although it lacked the mandate that the procurement function benefitted from at Ford. The 4.5 years I spent with Vodafone really enhanced my stakeholder engagement and relationship skills, where the art of getting things done was built around relationships and influence.

In 2009 I was at a bit of a crossroads; with an opportunity to remain with Vodafone, that required a move into Europe or take an opportunity with BG Group which offered the potential to move to the US in the near future. With no ties to the UK, I opted to take the later and joined BG Group, initially within the UK to lead the IT procurement function, my first truly global role managing a team split across the UK, US and Australia, giving me the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures in a work environment, ultimately moving to the US in 2011. This was a great move for me professionally and personally and it saw me lead their North American office in Houston, managing the contracts and procurement function with a remit spanning North America, cutting across all exploration and indirect category areas.

In 2015 Shell acquired BG Group and my role changed to reporting in to the new group CPO aiding with the integration of BG Group into Shell and standardising and establishing the new global playbook for procurement. Post integration I took what turned out to be my last role in the organisation leading the global technology, innovation and R&D procurement team.

After leaving Shell, my wife and I had 2 young children and we were looking for one last adventure before settling back in the UK for the benefit of the children’s education. A call came out of the blue for an opportunity with Digicel – a Caribbean, a multi-channel media and telecoms business covering 25 markets across the Caribbean. I joined in 2022 as their Chief Procurement Officer and spent just over 2 hugely enjoyable years helping the business professionalise their procurement and supply chain function. With the children not yet at critical exam ages, we felt it was the right time as a family to put some roots down and we moved to the UK in 2024 when I moved into my current role within National Grid.

You’ve worked across a number of sizable global businesses – was it a conscious decision to move industry sectors throughout your career?

The type of company or companies in particular haven’t been deliberate, what has been a very conscious and deliberate decision however has been the experience I anticipated gaining from moving across sectors. I have deliberated avoided moving to a competitor as I feel strongly that you benefit far more by experiencing and learning from the different cultures, nuances of a sector, perception of procurement and challenges of the supply base that different industries experience. This goes back to satisfying my curious and adventurous mindset.

Do you look back fondly on your time living and working overseas?

Oh without hesitation, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. With the development of technology and globalisation the world is a far smaller place than it was when I embarked on my career with Ford in 2001. I’ve benefited enormously from each of the countries I have had the pleasure of living and working in. It’s a great way to press reset each time and unlearn what you believe you know with an opportunity to relearn.  Its not easy and can be quite daunting at first, although I’ve been fortunate enough to work in countries where English is the main language. You’ve just got to embrace the change and I remain a firm advocate for encouraging people to take a chance and grasp an opportunity to work overseas if it arises.

How has this shaped you as an individual and a leader?

It’s had a profound effect on me – I met my now wife whilst working in the US and our two children were born in there. They have undoubtedly benefited from seeing the world through various different lenses and experiences – and has certainly increased the resilience of all 4 of us. The move to the US with BG Group in 2011 pushed me out of my comfort zone, but the upside of the move and subsequent time spent in the Caribbean has unequivocally shaped me both personally and professionally.

I spent 13 years living and working as a guest in someone else’s country. You need to be humble and value the opinion of others on a daily basis. This teaches you to be patient, tolerant and to empathise with others, seeing things through their eyes and immeasurably increasing your ability to communicate better. I also still draw upon these learnings daily and the international networks I built up over the past 13 years.

What advice would you pass onto aspiring procurement professionals looking to navigate the path to becoming a CPO?

The world is a dynamic place and even the best laid plans will change and are subject to chaos as we have seen and continue to see from a geopolitical and economic perspective. Don’t play the safe card all the time. Instead be brave – push and challenge yourself and take ownership of your own growth and development. Build your network – this is critical in order for you to continue to grow and be open to ongoing lifelong learning and experiences.

Tell me a little bit about the journey you’ve been on with National Grid over the past 12 months?

I joined National Grid 12 months ago as VP of Procurement for Electricity Transmission and Strategic Infrastructure. This is a hugely exciting opportunity that again satisfies my curious mindset. National Grid plans to invest approximately £60 billion in energy networks over a five year time frame. This investment, which is nearly double the level of previous investment, aims to drive the energy transition, including expanding the electricity network and enabling the decarbonisation of the energy system, whilst delivering value for our customer and energy bill payers on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s another organisation whose purpose and values I am proud to be part of, as we strive to make a meaningful difference in  people’s lives