s supply chain complexity , geopolitical uncertainty and environmental challenges grow , there is a pressing need for broader collaboration and cooperation both within organisations and across industries .

After all , business is made up of a series of relationships , the strength of which shapes the future trajectory of companies and the stability of the global supply chain .

Stakeholder engagement is , therefore , one of the most important skills a leader can master today – and Darren Leigh , CEO at Unipart , has done exactly that .

Leadership at Unipart Darren ’ s career journey thus far is both remarkable and inspiring .

Hailing from a working-class background , he began a YTS apprenticeship – a popular , on-the -job course for school leavers during the 1980s – at the age of 16 .

After completing his training with a local manufacturing firm , Darren remained in the industry for the first decade of his career before transitioning to supply chain finance and management .

Throughout his professional journey , he has navigated diverse ownership models , industries and geographic regions , serving as a CFO or Managing Director in some pivotal economic periods , from the dot-com era to the global financial crisis .

110 January 2025