Nine years ago, Jo McCourt joined EBIT at a very different stage in its journey.
The business was smaller, operating with a lean team and a model focused largely on interim procurement support. Today, EBIT is a strategic Managed Procurement Services provider, partnering with organisations across the UK, Europe and North America through long-term client relationships.
As Jo marks her anniversary with the business, she reflects on the journey so far, the lessons learned, and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Taking a Leap
When Jo was first approached by EBIT’s original founders, she was already established in a successful commercial finance career.
“I was in a secure role with a great career path ahead of me. EBIT was a much smaller business at the time, but there was something exciting about it. It felt like an opportunity to get involved in every aspect of growing a company and help shape its future.”
Coming from a finance and commercial background, Jo brought experience gained within retail, wholesale, real estate and hospitality businesses – working closely with operational, marketing, IT, logistics, property and commercial teams to drive performance and profitability.
That broad commercial perspective would prove invaluable as EBIT evolved.
Wearing Many Hats
Like many growing businesses, specialisation was a luxury in the early days.
“My role was effectively finance, HR, commercial contracts and anything else that needed doing. If something needed solving, you got involved.”
Those experiences provided a deep understanding of how every part of the business operated, from client onboarding and resource planning to commercial strategy and service delivery.
Over time, that exposure helped prepare Jo for progression into the position of CFO and ultimately CEO.
A Defining Shift
One of the biggest changes Jo has witnessed is EBIT’s evolution from shorter-term engagements to long-term managed service partnerships.
“When I joined, much of our work was centred around interim support and shorter engagements. Today we’re delivering multi-year outsourced managed procurement services for major organisations. That’s a very different proposition.”
The transition required investment, resilience and a willingness to rethink the business model.
“It takes time to build the credibility, delivery capability and trust needed for clients to commit to long-term partnerships. But that shift has enabled us to create deeper relationships and deliver more sustainable value for our clients.”
What Clients Value Most
For Jo, EBIT’s difference comes down to one thing: practical experience.
“We’re practitioners first. Our people have sat in our clients’ seats. They’re not career consultants. They understand the challenges because they’ve experienced them themselves.”
That approach has shaped EBIT’s culture and client relationships.
“Clients want more than recommendations. They want people who can help them increase profit and reduce commercial risk. That’s where we focus our energy.”
Whether supporting cost optimisation, governance, risk reduction or procurement transformation, EBIT’s objective remains the same: helping clients achieve measurable business results.
Lessons in Leadership
Throughout her career at EBIT, Jo has continued to expand her role and responsibilities.
One unexpected progression was becoming more involved in business development and sales.
“During 2020, I stepped into client-facing sales activity much more than I ever expected. As a CFO selling to other CFOs, I found I genuinely enjoyed it.”
Jo played a key leadership role in EBIT’s competitive financing process, engaging with Private Equity investors and debt providers before ultimately securing debt funding. She later led a successful sale process and due diligence phase, gaining valuable insight into investor expectations whilst working closely with lawyers and forensic accountants to negotiate a deal that worked for everyone involved.
Today, she believes one of the most important leadership lessons has been the value of relationships.
“The biggest game-changer for me has been building a strong network. Having trusted people around you who can challenge your thinking, share experiences and offer support is invaluable.”
A Proud Moment
When asked what stands out as her greatest achievement at EBIT, Jo points to EBIT’s first managed service client.
“It was the moment we proved we could do it. It validated the direction we wanted to take the business.”
Since then, the business has continued to grow its Managed Services capability, securing larger, longer-term partnerships and further establishing its position in the market.
On a larger scale, Jo noted that the most fulfilling experiences across her career have been times where she has been able to give back to her community, colleagues, mentors, or peers. Jo has done so in numerous ways:
“My proudest moments have come from being able to give back through the network and relationships I’ve built throughout my career. I love joining the dots, connecting people, opening doors and helping others navigate opportunities they may not otherwise have seen. Whether it’s mentoring, offering advice, making introductions or simply being a sounding board, I get a huge amount of satisfaction from, connecting people who can help each other, seeing people grow in confidence and achieve things they didn’t think were possible. In many ways, those moments have been just as rewarding as any commercial success.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the progress made over the past nine years, Jo believes the biggest opportunities still lie ahead.
“I genuinely feel we’ve only scratched the surface.”
Future growth will continue to focus on expanding EBIT’s Managed Procurement Services, strengthening international partnerships and helping organisations unlock greater value from indirect procurement.
