Sarah Lighton
About Sarah Lighton
Sarah Lighton serves as the Director of Operations at Simfoni, where she has worked since 2022. With extensive experience in procurement and category management across various industries, she has held significant roles at companies such as British American Tobacco, AstraZeneca, and Compass Group.
Work at Simfoni
Sarah Lighton has been with Simfoni since 2021, initially serving as the Global Implementation Lead for Spend Automation. In 2022, she transitioned to the role of Director of Operations. In her current position, she leads operational strategies and oversees the implementation of procurement solutions, contributing to the company's growth and efficiency in spend management.
Previous Experience in Procurement
Before joining Simfoni, Sarah Lighton held various roles in procurement and category management across several organizations. She worked at Compass Group and News International as a Category Manager, and at Agrega as the Global Category Manager for HR & Professional Services. Additionally, she served as an Interim Procurement Professional at various companies and held positions at British American Tobacco, AstraZeneca, and Coffee Republic.
Education and Expertise
Sarah Lighton has a strong educational background in business and management. She studied at The Manchester Metropolitan University, earning a BA Hons from 1990 to 1994. She further enhanced her skills through programs at Ashridge Executive Education and Hult International Business School, focusing on leadership and strategic management.
Achievements in Procurement Strategy
Throughout her career, Sarah Lighton has implemented significant procurement strategies that have delivered measurable results. She led a global indirect procurement transformation, achieving over £60 million in value through various initiatives. She also established a Strategy & Planning team that integrated advanced Supplier Relationship Management capabilities and implemented a demand management process that reduced consulting fees by 20% for a global FMCG company.
Leadership and Team Management
Sarah has demonstrated strong leadership skills by organizing and leading teams in high-stakes environments. She managed a team of 24 professionals responsible for overseeing a spend of £980 million across professional services. Her ability to work with C-suite executives and external advisors has been instrumental in developing innovative category management approaches in her roles.