He told delegates at "inspiration2action" last week that purchasers needed a stronger focus on procurement meeting business needs if they wanted to sit at the “top table” of their organisations.

Gershon, who is due to resign as chief executive of the OGC next year, asked: “Do you recognise that procurement is a cradle-to-grave process in which skilled professionals should be encouraged to add value throughout the life cycle?”

He also challenged whether the profession is doing enough to develop people with the skills in areas such as undertaking challenging procurements - for instance, outsourcing, IT-enabled business change and the strategic management of supply chains.

“Third, are you doing enough to earn the right to sit at the ‘top table’ of business and public-sector organisations? I suggest this requires talking in the language of top management, not jargon.”