Paul Harridine

Energizer
DISC Type : I

Director of Commercial and Procurement at Thames Water

United Kingdom

Overview

Paul Harridine is a seasoned executive serving as the Director of Commercial and Procurement at Thames Water. His extensive experience spans the automotive, aerospace, and supply chain industries, underpinned by an MBA with Distinction from Warwick Business School. Colleagues have described him as highly focused and calm under pressure.

Pauls professional background in the automotive sector aligns with his personal interest in major manufacturers like the Volvo Group and Toyota Motor Corporation, indicating a deep-seated passion for the industry. This blend of professional expertise and personal interest suggests a holistic engagement with the automotive world.

He once managed a spend of £3 billion across 15 countries and 30 businesses during his time as VP of Purchasing for Europe at Lafarge.

Personality Overview

Imaginative

Big Picture Person

Relationship Oriented

They are not always early adopters but can be pursuaded by leveraging strong relationships.  They are naturally enthusiastic, so take their promise with a pinch of salt. They excel at seeing the bigger picture, and the long-term impact of their decisions.

Topics They Care About

Procurement Transformation
As Director at Thames Water, he is focused on building a world-class procurement and commercial team to drive value and innovation.
Global Supply Chain
A core skill demonstrated throughout his career in executive and board-level roles across automotive, aerospace, and logistics industries.
Strategic Sourcing
Holds extensive experience as a Chief Procurement Officer and VP of Purchasing, responsible for large-scale, international sourcing operations.

Media Appearances

Paul has no verified media appearances

Work History

8-2025 - 3-2026
Director of Commercial and Procurement at Thames Water
8-2022 - 10-2025
Bereavement at Career Break
7-2017 - 6-2022
VP Procurement and Supply Management at CN
6-2011 - 5-2017
CPO at DS Smith
2007 - 6-2011
VP Purchasing Europe at Lafarge

Education

2000 - 2002
MBA Distinction from University of Warwick - Warwick Business School
1984 - 1987
BSc Hons from Loughborough University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 34 Location : United Kingdom Job Level : N/A Designation : Director of Commercial and Procurement at Thames Water
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Insights For Selling To Paul

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Do some small talk, ask them how things are going on their side
  • Use phrases like ‘people will love’, ‘massive impact’ etc.
  • Talk anecdotally about the customer experience that your product offers

DONT's

  • Don’t push them to make a decision too fast, let them get comfortable first
  • Avoid overloading them with too much detail
  • Don’t be excessively objective, be a storyteller

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Paul is

  • Relationship and trust can be vital with them, sometimes more than anything else.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Paul

  • They are unlikely to say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Paul move?

  • They are not the fastest decision makers, their friendly approach can give false positive signals.
  • Can Paul take some risk or not?

  • They can take certain risks that are unlikely to have personal consequences.

You And Paul

Personality Compatibility


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