Speaker Profiles

Chris  Warburton has spent over 15 years in executive roles, leading transformation and delivering performance improvements in businesses in the UK, Canada and across many other markets around the world.

With a passion for new ideas, technology and process innovation, he helps teams find new ways of working to improve performance. Chris frequently speaks at events and conferences. He is always keen to look ahead of the curve, demystify and share experience with a wider audience.  For him, it is all about helping create great conversations in order to generate great solutions.

Data minded and people orientated his experience spans sectors from financial services, telecommunications and more recently in an advisory role in consultancy. He has specialist knowledge across the customer lifecycle, from Account Origination to Fraud, Account management, Collections and Recoveries. He is currently working on a series of videos exploring the latest ideas, innovation and technology in Credit and Collections.  The conversation is available at RO-AR.com.

Russell was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of CIVEA in January 2018 having previously held the post of Chief Executive of the Consumer Finance Association, where he was responsible for working with legislators and regulators and partnering with consumer organisations to raise standards in the short-term lending industry.

Throughout his career he has been involved in the leadership of trade associations.  As such he has become a proficient commentator and spokesman, both through his work with policymakers and through his media profile.  Russell is consistently named in the Credit 500, as one of the fifty top influencers. He has also held senior positions at the Finance and Leasing Association and the Energy Retail Association, now known as Energy UK. He has worked in Downing Street for the Chief Whip and the Cabinet Office as private secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal. Outside of work, Russell is a keen angler and is active in church as a Lay Worship Assistant.

Kevin is a longstanding member of the CMICM* and a mathematics graduate. He has been involved in financial service and consumer credit since graduation in 1984. He held senior roles with UAPT-Infolink, Equifax and Intrum Justitia through the eighties and nineties, including being responsible for strategic development across Europe.

Kevin set up his management consultancy firm in 2002 and holds a number of directorships. He sits on a number of governance forums including the Standard Financial Statement (SFS), MaPS DAOG and the Trailblazer Debt Adviser Apprenticeship Scheme. He co-founded APDSI** in October 2010 and the association merged with DEMSA in August 2015. Kevin then took on the role of CEO of the merged association. He has been acting as a debt management subject matter expert and programme manager on a major government programme since late 2019 working closely with global systems integrators like Capgemini.

*  Chartered Institute of Credit Management     ** Association of Professional Debt Solution Intermediaries 

Guy Statter is responsible for all Qualco business development and client management activities in the UK and Ireland region. Amongst his successes as the Head of UKI Software Sales for Qualco Technology, he ensures the delivery of operational and digital software collections, analytics and loan management solutions and loan management to companies in the debt and insolvency space, energy and telecoms providers, and mortgages and banking providers. 

For 20 years prior to joining Qualco, Guy Statter has had a successful career in the Technology and Credit Risk industry, holding various business development and leadership roles at BAE Systems, Experian, Salesforce and Target Group, working on large business change projects in multiple countries.

Peter has 30 years industry experience initially working operationally as a Credit Manager primarily within the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. Peter developed a good understanding of cross border trade lC’s , bonds even inco terms . The challenge of supporting risk through two recessions helped him develop a good knowledge of insolvency and credit insurance.

Moving into the Business Development world 18 years ago Peter has worked within both the B2C and B2B recoveries in addition to a 5 year stint in the glamorous area of High Court enforcement. Over this period he has developed a large network across the credit industry which he continues to grow and maintain.

From a wider industry point of view, Peter has acted as chair for the CICM North West Branch for the past 8 years and was voted to the National Advisory Board in 2020. Additionally, Peter is an executive member of the Lancashire and Cheshire IRRV Association and is an active participator at MALG National events.

Peter is a regular speaker at both CICM events and IRRV seminars spreading the gospel of credit management and collections he also sat on panels covering the world of AI and risk . Locally Peter supports his local networking group and helps with Credit control and enforcement advice.

Chris Leslie is the Chief Executive Officer at the Credit Services Association (CSA)

Sonya Schofield is the Head of Vulnerable Consumer Strategy at GAIN Credit, driving the company’s approach in fulfilling their vision on how they engage with and support consumers in vulnerable circumstances. Having worked in financial services for almost 20 years, Sonya spent her early years working in various business areas of Collection’s before focusing solely on Consumer Vulnerability for the last 12. Sonya has driven Vulnerable Strategies in various organisations including Barclaycard, Argos financial services & Sainsburys Bank and has built experience in understanding the needs of customers in different vulnerable circumstances through a wide range of products, services, and channels.

Richard has held a number of senior roles across the Consumer Lending sector spanning more than 20 years and has vast experience in delivering effective financial solutions within dynamic environments with a customer first attitude. His financial services experience has seen him hold senior roles across large PLC’s including GE Capital, Bank of Ireland, Cattles, Dollar and Everyday Loans.

Mel is the Director of Client Experience and Culture at Equivo.

Previously Mel was the national head of ABL Recoveries at Shoosmiths. Mel provides advice to the finance industry in relation to recovery of assets and monies and is also responsible for the team’s “cradle to grave” motor and asset finance recoveries service providing complete portfolio management solutions to her clients.

Mel has more than 20 years’ experience in the finance industry and is known for being a robust but commercial litigator and someone who prides herself on exemplary client service and fair customer focused outcomes.

Tony is an experienced senior management professional with experience within the Financial Services and FinTech sectors having held senior positions in Business Operations, Business Development, Marketing, Client Relationship and Commercial Development.

Currently working at Onmo a fintech start up due to enter the credit card market in the near future.

Outside of his day job I am involved in education as Chair of Governors at a large inner city primary school and as a Non-Exec on the board at a Multi Academy Trust.

Frank Sherlock is the VP for CallMiner International, responsible for expanding CallMiner customer footprint in the region

Based in the UK, Frank has been with CallMiner for 4 years, during which time we have seen significant business growth in the region. Frank holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Higher National Diploma in Telecommunications engineering. He has worked in and around the contact centre and customer experience space for the last 20 years, including holding senior roles in companies such as Genesys, Intervoice, Convergys, SoundBite and CallMiner. When not working Frank is an avid fan of Everton FC, where he is a long time season ticket holder, and enjoys golfing.

Paul Chong is a seasoned senior executive leader. He has held various senior positions at tech companies including the Regional Head of Watson, IBM’s artificial intelligence business unit. He was responsible for commercialising the early stages of the technology into a multi-million pound organisation across the UK, Europe and Africa. He has been an advisor to the World Economic Forum (Insurance Committee) and a regular public speaker on AI and Machine Learning. He is able to share a unique insight on the latest technologies that will impact industries and professions.

Paul has experience in mobile payment technology as Managing Director of EZ-Pay Limited, a pre-paid MasterCard organisation. Beginning his career in the global software market, he later joined Phones4U in 1998, where he became MD and was an integral member of the management team until the firm’s sale for £1.4 billion in 2006. On 1 May 2018, Paul was appointed a member of the FCA’s Smaller Business Practitioner Panel to represent approximately 50,000 small to medium financial services sector firms, and on 1 March 2021 he was appointed as a Board Director of the Consumer Credit Trade Association.

Paul has been responsible for growing the Company organically and by acquisition. His expertise in software and technology has been invaluable in driving efficiencies while maintaining excellent customer service levels.

Frank is Head of Risk and Transformation at the regulatory consultancy Bovill, and a s166 Skilled Person. He joined Bovill in 2017, after working for Big 4 consultancies. Frank has worked on a wide range of engagements, across various sectors, supporting clients in the identification, quantification and mitigation of Conduct Risk. He has a particular focus on helping firms achieve good outcomes for all customers (especially vulnerable customers), and developing effective frameworks to articulate the approach to TCF, and the forthcoming Consumer Duty.

Frank has a sector specialism in the lending sector. He has worked closely with many firms, engaging with the operational teams to develop frontline policies and procedures and approaches that balance commercial expectations against regulatory needs. He works with new firms going through the authorisation process and existing firms seeking to improve their controls.