Meet the Team: Michelle Walton
We’re delighted to welcome Michelle Walton to the EBIT team! Joining us at the start of October as a Delivery Operating Partner, Michelle brings many years of experience in procurement , leading teams across multiple categories. From her early career in industrial manufacturing to her later role leading a team serving retail, hospitality and leisure needs, she has developed a strong track record in driving value, solving complex challenges, and delivering impactful results for clients.
Having just started her journey with EBIT, Michelle is already demonstrating her abilities, getting involved with live client projects and making her mark with her collaborative approach and passion for helping organisations optimise their procurement strategies.
What does your role encompass?
Driving measurable value for clients by partnering with stakeholders at all levels, from operational teams through to senior executives, to identify opportunities, analyse spend, assess market capabilities, and refine business requirements. Leading sourcing processes and commercial negotiations that deliver financial benefits, mitigate risk, protect client interests, and future proof long term commitments while ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives.
What does your average workday look like?
My day is spent collaborating with clients, stakeholders, and suppliers across the globe. I’m already managing sourcing and procurement projects. From analysing spend and identifying market opportunities, supporting supplier negotiations, reviewing contracts, and providing strategic recommendations, I am getting involved at all stages with colleagues and partners operating across the globe.
What’s your professional background?
I have over 30 years of experience as a purchasing professional with a wealth of experience in category management, tendering, whole life cost evaluation, contract formation and management of implementing projects across multifunctional decentralised divisions.
With proven stakeholder management and influencing capabilities at all levels, I also have over 23 years of managing and coaching teams with excellent project management, man management and inter-personal skills.
Over the past 18 years in my previous role as Head of Procurement, I have had significant success in developing and executing purchasing strategies across multiple Indirect spend areas, more specifically those relating to the retail sector.
What would your advice be to someone who is considering procurement as a career?
If you are good at building relationships, are curious and never want to stop learning then this might just be the career path for you. Procurement is much more than negotiating prices, its about understanding business needs, solving problems, managing stakeholders and working with suppliers to create value.
When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
Catching up with friends over a glass (or two)!! I also love walking adventures , exploring the beautiful Cornish coast line, usually with a pub stop at the end !!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Seek to understand before you seek to be understood
If you could only use one piece of technology, what would it be?
My mobile phone, I am not sure I could function without it
