Smarter Spending

Pedro Amendoeira is a cost optimisation consultant and former CFO/CSO, known for improving profit through smarter procurement. With fifteen years of delivering hundreds of projects, Pedro brings clarity, practicality, and data‑grounded judgement to every page. He distils complex supplier decisions into actionable methods that help leaders reduce waste and strengthen resilience.Neil Apter is former Head of Performance Development (Marketing, Business Development and Operations) for EMEA and Head of Training at ERA Group, where he was responsible for onboarding hundreds of new starters and the ongoing professional development of more than 1,000 consultants across the globe. His voice is structured, empathetic, and grounded in operational realities. He turns best practices into simple processes that enable teams to align spending with strategy and sustain improvements

“Procurement is not just about saving costs. In Smarter Spending, Neil Apter and Pedro Amendoeira lead you to a wider view of how firms build their competitive advantage.” Manuel Caldeira Cabral. Ex-Minister of Economy. PhD, University of Nottingham. Professor of Economics, University of Minho“A timely and highly practical guide for leaders who want to improve profitability without undermining long-term value. For executives serious about resilience, sustainability, and smarter use of capital, this is an essential read.” Carla Rebelo, Global Head of Adecco Permanent Recruitment, SVP“Smarter Spending is a game-changer for understanding how organizations can make better spending decisions and transform their approach to procurement to build stronger, more value-driven companies—brought to life through real-world stories.” Joana Silva, Deputy Chief Economist at the World Bank and Associate Professor at Catolica Lisbon School of Economics and Management“Congratulations to the authors Pedro and Neil for this comprehensive and didactic book. In my view, there is a systemic perspective in which everything is interconnected. We are able to gain a broader understanding and increase our ability to see that businesses, teams, and clients form an indivisible whole. It is truly a book that leads us to notice extremely important details that we are not aware of in our daily lives.” Antonio Raab, Entrepreneur and Senior Advisor, former Board Member of the Hilti Foundation, Hilti’s General Manager in Portugal and Brasil“An engaging and insightful read, full of real-world stories that make procurement come alive. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned sourcing professional, this book offers both inspiration and a powerful reminder of the core principles that drive success.” David Rickard, Former Senior Global Procurement Director, Microsoft  “What struck me about Smarter Spending is how deeply human and practical it is. Neil and Pedro take a subject many leaders shy away from and turn it into clear, common-sense mindsets that apply as much to running a household or a small business as they do to large organisations. The book treats spending as a human challenge, not a numeric one - a matter of behaviour, clarity, and making smarter choices. And on that level, every leader and decision-maker will recognise themselves in these pages.”  Pellegrino Riccardi, Award-winning Tedx & Global Keynote Speaker  "I love it. This book is chock-full of excellent advice, illustrated with wonderful examples that bring the authors’ points to life. At its core are ten principles. And these are principles for the ages. Who could doubt that adhering to them will not just save your organisation money but build a more resilient business." Mike Clayton, Author and Founder, Online PM Courses“Smarter Spending challenges leaders to see costs and overheads not as limitations, but as signals of strategy and purpose. Its Ten Principles offer a clear, practical way to align every pound with intent. As a purposeful B Corp, this mindset is essential: how we spend must reflect what we stand for. This book provides a great framework for turning operational spend into genuine strategic advantage.” James Sandford, Chief Operating Officer, Propellernet, a B Corp“Smarter Spending is a refreshingly practical book for business leaders. It gives CEOs, boards, and procurement teams tools they can use immediately to make better decisions – while quietly reminding us that how organisations spend reveals what they truly value, and who they really are.” Stuart Marginson, Managing Director & Founder, Highgate