Former MCA President David Bailey appointed chair of procurement marketplace Bloom
David Bailey, the former President of the Management Consultancies Association, has been appointed as non-executive chair of public sector procurement marketplace Bloom.
Bloom is a platform that provides public-sector buyers with a fast, flexible, and fully compliant way of hiring external professional services partners. Backed by private equity firm BGF, Bloom has since its inception in 2012 helped councils, NHS bodies, and government departments deliver more than 13,000 projects with a total spend of over £1.6 billion.
“Bloom is already delivering a proven, compliant and cost-effective solution to procurement teams of public sector organisations,” said Bailey. “I’m excited to help accelerate its reach and impact. With the Procurement Act now in force, there’s a renewed opportunity to drive better outcomes, increase social value, and foster a more dynamic relationship between public sector organisations and their supply chains.”
A lifetime consultant, Bailey learned consulting’s basics at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), after which he co-founded his own management consulting firm Impact Plus, which was sold to Hitachi in 2007. At Hitachi, he grew the ranks to become a global leader, among others serving as Managing Vice President at Hitachi Consulting responsible for driving growth in the UK, and as a member of Hitachi Consulting’s Global Committee overseeing teams worldwide.
Between 2005-2006, Bailey was President of the Management Consultancies Association, and he served as a judge on several editions of the annual MCA Awards.
Since 2009, Bailey has been advising consulting firms as an independent consultant, focusing on topics such as growth, mergers & acquisitions, business planning, leadership coaching, and operational effectiveness.
“We’re thrilled to welcome David to Bloom,” said Amabel Grant, CEO of Bloom. “His combination of strategic insight, consulting expertise, and strong relationships across our supplier base makes him a perfect fit for our mission. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment as we scale our platform and deepen our impact across the UK public sector.”
Adam Jacobs, Founder of Bloom, added: “Bloom is at a critical inflection point. David’s leadership and commercial experience will help us unlock the next chapter of growth. Together, we’ll strengthen our position as a trusted delivery partner for the public sector and a vital route to market for suppliers of all sizes.”
The MCA is currently led by Tamzen Isacsson. She has been in the role since 2018, when she succeeded Alan Leaman, who spent over a decade at the head of the industrial representative body.
