Robert Tatum has been appointed director of the Central Procurement Office (CPO), becoming the first Caymanian to lead the government office.
On 1 December, he succeeds Taraq Bashir, who is retiring on 30 November after serving as CPO director.
Tatum joined the CPO as procurement manager in May 2019 and was promoted to deputy director in January 2024.
He holds a master’s degree in operations and supply chain management from the University of Liverpool, the MCIPS professional designation from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, and an ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management.
He recently completed an international master’s programme in public procurement management at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, graduating top of his class.
Tatum was the first Caymanian to undertake the programme, attending with support from a Caribbean Development Bank scholarship.
The programme covered areas including procurement planning, complaints, sustainable procurement and anti-corruption, while exposing participants to procurement systems used in different countries.
Tatum said the experience had broadened his thinking about how procurement rules could be used to improve compliance and outcomes.
“One of my key takeaways was that no country has a perfect system and there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” he said in a press release on 7 October.
“What is right for the Cayman Islands must be considered in our own context.”
He said his aim was to develop a system where compliance was “the minimum standard”, supported by incentives for government entities to go beyond the basic requirements.
As director, Tatum plans to further professionalise procurement across the public service, build on existing procurement technology and strengthen the CPO’s support for entities before contracts are put out to tender and after they are awarded.
Kenneth Jefferson, financial secretary and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development chief officer, said Tatum’s promotion reflected his performance, commitment to public service and investment in his professional development.
“His appointment as the first Caymanian Director of the CPO is an important milestone,” Jefferson said.
He also thanked Bashir for his leadership and his efforts to develop Caymanian talent during his time at the CPO.
Bashir said he had watched Tatum “grow and develop” since he joined the office in 2019.
“He has consistently invested in his professional development and applied that learning to strengthen our work,” Bashir commented.
“Robert has the knowledge, judgement and commitment to lead the office, and I am delighted to see him take on this role.”
Tatum said he is honoured to take on the role and stressed the importance of procurement to government operations.
“Without procurement, government would not be able to deliver many of its services and obligations to the country,” he said.
“Procurement is the machine that turns public dollars into delivery, and my goal is to ensure that machine is as efficient as possible.”
