Gary Horton

Former Senior Business Advisor, Cabinet Office

As the lead category manager travel/agency Gary Horton was the principal negotiator for travel services to the Cabinet Office and its Estate. Gary was in this position from November 2006 to early 2011. He was charged to lead the change management and technology adoptions. Engagement of stakeholders being invaluable in seeing the project through, he brought together key influencers and employed marketing and communications management to help deliver change. Buy-in was 65-75% before the programme and ended up at 99%.

Gary implemented online travel booking tools. His (award winning) achievements include a rail programme which has achieved an average ticket cost reduction of 54% and 99% compliance and a hotel programme which has achieved a 22% reduction in costs and a 50% adoption rate in eight months.

Prior to joining the Cabinet Office, Gary Horton worked at Defra as a senior advisor with responsibility for interim services, professional services and the science categories including emergency responses (bird flu). His procurement career before Defra included stints at HMV retail, the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, local and national charities and his own consultancy.

Gary believes in radical policy and innovative marketing as well as actual strategic procurement. He also believes that mandation is key to the delivery of any real benefits.

Gary says, “I’m very pleased to see and be part of a board that can take the public sector agenda forward.”

The other members of the board are Terry Plumer of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Dr Jacqui Wilkinson of Be Engaged, Jonathan Green of JMP Consultants, Jonathan Willoughby of w5ive Consulting, Tony Pilcher of Pilcher Associates and Jeannette Harrison of the University of Nottingham.