Leadership Profile: Alan Cornwell of Drake and Scull FMS
This month SmartProcurement profiles Alan Cornwell from Drake and Scull Facilities Management.
Full name: Alan Cornwell
Position: Group Procurement Manager for Drake and Scull (New Clicks Holdings contract)
Your organisations’ procurement spend: R400-million.
Who does P & SM report to: Operations Executive of Drake and Scull who reports to New Clicks SA Chief Financial Officer.
Private sector OR Public sector: Public sector.
Core business activity of the enterprise: Facilities Management Solutions.
Number of people in your P & SM organisation: Five.
Management motto: “You are only as good as your supplier”.
Membership of professional bodies: The Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa (IPSA)
Chairman of IPSA Western Cape.
What is your vision for P & SM: That procurement is represented at the highest level in an organization, and that all companies have a procurement department (outsourced or in-house)
Personal best achievement: Receiving a Merit Award for top student of the year when studying
Purchasing Management at the Damelin Management School.
Most important commodities: Travel; Printed Stationery, Fleet, Capex spend for new stores and
Distribution Centres, Security, Cleaning, Courier, Signage, Flooring, Furniture, Store Equipment & Lift & Hoists.
The person that has had the biggest influence on your life: My Standard 4 primary school teacher Mr. Carstens, who taught me to play drums. I then went on to play in many dance, rock and pop bands, which took me all over South Africa.
The person that has had the biggest influence on your career: I have worked with many people over the years. It will be difficult for me to single out one person only.
Person you would most like to meet: Michael Schumacher. His dedication, commitment to his team, and his will to win was unequalled.
Businessperson who has impressed you most: Jack Goldin, who started Pick ‘n Pay, and then sold it to Raymond Ackerman. He then started Clicks in 1968.
Your favourite South African organisation: New Clicks SA.
Your favourite global organisation: Virgin.
Your philosophy about life: “To have a positive attitude and outlook on life, which helps with the
various challenges that are presented on a daily basis.
Favourite reading: Anything that has to do with motor vehicles. I am a bit of a petrol head.
Favourite music: Toto, Journey, Earth Wind & Fire, The Bee Gees and Level 42.
Favourite sport: Motor racing.
Favourite website: News24.com.
Hobbies: Running, every morning before work, gardening, home improvements and watching various sports.
Car: A showroom condition 3.0 litre BMW Z3 Roadster. My family call it “The Baby Car”.
Pets: Our cat, Annie, who is 15 years old.
Married: Rina.
Children: Two sons. Dean 21 years old and Luc 12 years old.
