Sara Gibbon

Senior commercial leader with extensive experience delivering multi-million and multi-billion-pound programmes across national security, cyber, energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Recognised for strengthening commercial governance, negotiating complex contracts, and driving measurable commercial outcomes in highly regulated environments. Brings deep expertise in SSRO compliance, strategic procurement, financial oversight, cyber-programme assurance, and enterprise-level risk management.

Commercial Manager - Leonardo UK (Cyber Division), National Strategic Organisation - Bristol

(2026-01)

• Led commercial governance for cyber-security programmes delivered into a National Strategic Organisation, supporting mission-critical UK Government, defence, and national-security customers.
• Drafted, negotiated, and managed complex cyber-technology, secure-service, and digital-infrastructure agreements aligned with national-security requirements, MoD accreditation frameworks, and sovereign capability objectives.
• Developed secure-by-design commercial controls across bids, pricing, supplier engagement, and programme delivery to protect sensitive data, operational resilience, and strategic national outcomes.
• Identified commercial, cyber, and regulatory risks, implementing mitigation strategies that strengthened programme assurance, compliance.
• Partnered with engineering, cyber-operations, intelligence-aligned teams, and strategic-programme leadership to ensure commercial decisions supported secure architecture, threat-resilience, and national-level mission objectives.
• Lead commercial for Business Win & Bid for new proposals.
• Mentored commercial staff, embedding cyber-aware commercial practices and improving cross-functional collaboration across the National Strategic Organisation.

Associate - Turner & Townsend (Defence Sector) - Bristol

(2022-11 - 2025-12)

• Oversaw contract negotiation, administration, and risk management for multi-billion-pound national security programmes.
• Ensured commercial strategies aligned with business cases and Cabinet Office contracting methodologies.
• Delivered data services into budget reports and supplier cost reviews.
• Procured complex systems critical to national security operations.
• Managed project delivery to unprecedented timeframes, ensuring KPI, cost, and quality compliance.

Qualifying Subcontract (QSG) Transition Manager - Siemens Energy Ltd (Nuclear Defence Sector)

(2021-02 - 2022-10)

• Provided commercial leadership for multi-million-pound programmes within Siemens Generation Service Nuclear Defence Sector.
• Implemented organisational changes to achieve full SSRO compliance.
• Strengthened procurement governance and project management methodologies.
• Delivered training on SSRO implications to enhance organisational capability.
• Executed monthly project reviews and comprehensive compliance reporting.

Commercial Lead - Gas & Oil - Siemens Energy Ltd (Gas Services)

(2018-12 - 2022-01)

• Commercial lead and senior leadership team for an 850MW CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine) power plant, overseeing commercial governance and financial performance.
• Strategic Leadership for Business Growth, Financial Performance and People Development.
• Owned and managed the operational P&L for the power plant.
• Ensured statutory and regulatory compliance across operations.
• Implemented transparent decision-making processes to ensure ISO audit compliance.
• Decommissioning of the power plant including Regulatory Obligations, Cost liability, Risk transfer, Contracting, Permits & Compliance, Stakeholders, Future use, TUPE and Redundancy.

Head of Commercial Credit Management (Interim) - Acorn Group

(2018-04 - 2018-09)

• Controlled credit management processes, maximising cash collection through targeted process mapping and improvements
• Managed month end and year-end reporting requirements.
• Ensured completion of statutory audits and compliance programmes.
• Strengthened financial oversight through high-accuracy reconciliations.
• Managed team.

Group Commercial / Credit Manager - MASCO Corporation (UKWG)

(2011-01 - 2018-01)

• Directed senior leadership collaboration to shape strategic commercial objectives.
• Ensured service level outcomes aligned with budget constraints and organisational strategy.
• Oversaw Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) compliance and multi-site shared service centre operations.
• Strengthened financial reporting accuracy and supply chain governance.
• Managed Multi site teams including HR, Training, budgets and performance metrics.
• Implemented and monitored departmental processes enhancing recovery and financial reporting accuracy.
• Commercial lead on all contract negotiations and recoveries including, company administration, insolvency and court proceedings.

Head of Credit Control (South Wales and West) - New Directions Recruitment

(2008-01 - 2010-01)

• Led a credit control team nationwide, enhancing head office recovery efforts.
• Oversaw all sales ledges and implemented credit control training initiatives.
• Standardised AR processes to improve debt recovery.

Credit Control Supervisor - Rockall Recruitment

(2006-01 - 2008-01)

• Managed daily operations for a credit control function.
• Prepared aged debt analysis and ensured accuracy of customer accounts.
• Developed and implemented credit control policies and procedures.

Credit Control Supervisor - Bogod Group Manufacturing

(2001-01 - 2006-01)

• Managed daily sales ledger activities.
• Reconciled accounts and customer account queries to ensure precision in financial records.
• Preparation of month end reporting for CFO.

Credit Controller - NTL Ltd

(1998-06 - 2001-01)

• Reduced outstanding debt by 30% through effective credit control oversight.
• Prepared collection reports and negotiated payment arrangements for high-value accounts.

Administrative Assistant - Civil Service (DWP)

(1996-05 - 1998-05)

• Processed benefit claims and payments within strict legislation.
• Managed claim accounts and ensured compliance with financial processes.

Bachelor of Arts - Business Environment & Accounting - University/College (not specified)

GCSEs - General Education - Tonypandy Comprehensive School