David (right) with Head of Procurement Mark Walton
Senior Procurement Manager, David Johnson, is leaving the University after more than 25 years service.
He first joined the University as a junior lab technician in the Department of Physiology after a successful interview one Saturday morning in 1967. David believes he got the job, not for his engaging personality, but due to the fact he had a car, as he had to drive around local abattoirs and hospitals collecting research material.
David left Physiology in 1978 to work in a small rural abattoir, having met the owner while collecting specimens but was soon back at the University working as Chief Technician in the Department of Anaesthesia.
In 1986 David moved to Procurement, under the leadership of Geoff Beard in the newly created Purchasing Assistant role with special responsibilities for lab consumables and equipment.
David said: “I was on probation for two years and had to demonstrate that savings could be achieved by working with departments and suppliers, I had to record every penny that was saved.”
After 18 months he had saved far more than his salary and was officially appointed.
His role has developed over the years and he has represented the University on the North Western Universities Purchasing Consortia Lab Consumables and Audio Visual Aids groups for nearly eight years.
David continued: “I am extremely proud of the work that was achieved through the groups and am pleased to have led two of the working parties that have saved the higher education sector tens of millions of pounds.”