Former top US buyer bang to rights
Is David Safavian the most famous buyer in the world?
Banged up for a year, his professional reputation damaged irrevocably, it was all once so rosy for him.
In 2004 he was elevated to the most senior buying role in the world. As administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget, he was responsible for setting purchasing policy for the entire US government.
But his time at the top was short-lived as his relationship with disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff began to unravel. The golf trip to Scotland he took with Abramoff became indefensible and he was hoisted before a judge in 2006.
Over three years and one appeal later, Safavian has been handed what should be his final punishment for lying to the FBI and obstructing justice.
Sadly for the profession the case has become somewhat of a media circus and punching his name into Google produces hundreds of news hits.
What other buyer can claim such ubiquitous exposure? Regretfully, his fame is for all the wrong reasons.
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What seems particularly strange is that he had no procurement experience – or even related operational business experience before he got that job. He was a lobbyist!
We’ve had a few senior appointments in public procurement who weren’t through and through procurement professionals but at least you could see the connection … funny place the US. Having said that, how many CIPS members have had a nice game of golf courtesy a supplier who wanted something, even if it was just some information? More than would admit it I suspect.