Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Thursday 20th November
Midland Hotel, Manchester
The Autumn Commercial Credit & Collections Conference series will continue on Thursday 20th November in Manchester. The event was first launched in 2019 and has been a virtual event in recent years but it returned with an events in Leeds and Manchester in 2024. The Spring version took place in May at the Milner Hotel, York.
The Commercial Credit & Collections Conference series focuses on the latest updates in credit management and insolvency.
The next edition of the conference will provide Credit Managers and FDs with access to credit management and insolvency-related advice. The Commercial Credit & Collections conferences are a platform to learn more about new industry services, products, the latest technology and best practice.
*CICM members can claim CPD points by attending this event.
SUPPORTER THOUGHT LEADERS:
Marsh is the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor. With more than 45,000 colleagues advising clients in over 130 countries, Marsh serves commercial and individual clients with data-driven risk solutions and advisory services. Marsh is a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. With annual revenue of $23 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. www.marsh.com
Opus Business Advisory Group is an independent advisory firm that assists clients to achieve their objectives, enhance value and attain the best possible results. The Group provides fresh thinking combined with specialist skills to facilitate the next steps of the client’s business journey.
The Group contains the largest independent restructuring and insolvency firm in the UK and overall has a head count of over 130 and with 35 Partners across the Group’s 14 offices. Additional Group divisions include strategic advisory, forensic accounting and equity. Our specialist teams within each division work together to deliver a seamless solution that addresses all of the clients’ needs through one team.
MIL Collections has over 25 years of experience within the Debt Recovery sector and a portfolio of 750+ Clients, MIL boasts a flawless service, operating strictly on a No Win – No Fee basis.
At MIL, our team of skilled and committed account managers offer unmatched customer service. Equipped with the skills to recover any lost fees or unpaid invoices across all sectors and possessing an understanding of the intricate complexities that arise through late payments and growing fees. MIL understands that whilst recouping funds owed is crucial, so too is maintaining the relationships between your business and its customers.
SUPPORTED BY:
The Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) is the world’s largest professional association for the credit community. Formed over 80 years ago, the Institute was granted its Royal Charter in 2014. The trusted leader in expertise for all credit and collections matters, it represents the profession across trade, consumer and international credit, and all credit-related services. It is the only such organisation accredited by Ofqual and it offers a comprehensive range of services and bespoke solutions for the credit professional (www.cicm.com) as well as services and advice for the wider business community, including the acclaimed CICM/BEIS Managing Cashflow guides.
PREVIOUS SPONSORS:
SPRING EVENT SPEAKER LIST AND PROFILES:
EVENT CHAIRS:
Brendan Clarkson, Partner – Creditor Services, Opus Business Advisory Group
Brendan leads the Opus Business Advisory Group’s Creditor Services team within the Restructuring and Insolvency practice, bringing over 25 years of specialist experience to the role.
He provides expert guidance to clients navigating both corporate and personal insolvency, offering support before, during, and after the appointment of an insolvency practitioner or restructure. Brendan works closely with creditors at every stage, focusing on maximising outcomes and helping them make informed decisions.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management, sits on the R3 London & South East regional committee, and is an active member of the Turnaround Management Association UK.
Rob Butler, Head of Trade Credit Sales at Marsh McLennan
Rob Butler holds a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Management and Leisure from the University of Manchester. With a solid foundation in sales and customer service, he embarked on his career in the credit insurance industry in 2011, joining Aon as a Client Manager. In 2017, Robert transitioned to Marsh, where he initially served as a Client Executive. His dedication and expertise led to his promotion as Practice Leader for Birmingham in 2019, and most recently, he was appointed Head of Sales for Trade Credit UK at the start of 2025.
Throughout his career, Robert has honed key skills in negotiation, risk management, business development, and trade credit insurance, making him a valuable asset in the industry. His strategic approach and commitment to client success have consistently driven results and fostered strong relationships.
Outside of his professional life, Robert is a devoted family man, happily married with two boys. He is a passionate football fan, proudly supporting the mighty Everton FC. In addition to his love for sports, Robert enjoys immersing himself in movies and expanding his Lego collection, finding joy in both creativity and nostalgia. Balancing his career and personal interests, Robert exemplifies a well-rounded individual dedicated to both his professional growth and family life.
SPEAKERS:
Professor Nicholas Wilson, Professor of Credit and Finance | Director, Credit Management Research Centre, University of Leeds
Professor Nicholas Wilson is one of the UK’s leading authorities on credit risk and management, SME and entrepreneurial finance, and business funding policy. As Director of the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC) at Leeds University Business School, he has led pioneering collaborations between academia, government, and industry for over three decades. His work has shaped UK and EU policy on access to finance, regional investment, credit risk, and late payment, with evidence cited by HM Treasury, the Department for Business & Trade, and the Office for Budget Responsibility.
He has published more than 100 academic papers (H-index 46, 10,000+ citations) and is a frequent advisor to government on the design and evaluation of major loan guarantee schemes, including the Covid Business Interruption and Bounce Back Loan Schemes. He co-founded CreditScorer Ltd, a Leeds University spin-out acquired in 2008, developed predictive credit analytics and benchmarking systems used by major banks and utilities.
His work bridges academic insight with practical business application. His current research explores how access to finance, investment behaviour, and innovation influence productivity and growth across UK regions. He is particularly interested in how data-driven policy and smarter funding mechanisms can help small and medium-sized enterprises scale up, adapt to economic change, and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable business economy.
Karen Ryan, Head of Third Party Recoveries at Clear Business
Karen has over 20 years’ experience in consumer and commercial debt recovery. Having held senior leadership positions in both creditor and supplier organisations she brings a balanced view of the key challenges that lead to debt problems, and insights into the different strategies used to tackle them.
Karen has worked with financial services and government contracts but considers her specialism as utility debt. She has recently moved to a new role as Head of Customer Transitions at Clear Business, a provider of utility and telecom services to small businesses. Prior to Clear Business Karen spent almost 4 years at Thames Water, working closely with debt, billing teams and several water companies who provided shared services to Thames customers. During this time she gained first-hand experience of some of the key challenges faced across the water industry.
Before moving to Thames, Karen spent 10 years leading a growing operation at one of largest providers of debt collection services in the utility industry. Having started her career in the debt industry as a collections agent and progressing through to Operations Director, Karen has developed both a passion for people and a strategic approach to performance improvements. She is a huge champion of harnessing the power of data and technology to improve both customer and colleague experiences.
Widely known for her straight talking, direct approach to conversations, Karen openly shares her experience from her career and her beliefs on the challenges faced in our industry today.
Dumi Ntsinde,
Dumi is a finance professional with over 18 years of experience in credit, collections, and ledger management. Throughout his career, he has focused on strengthening working capital performance while maintaining a customer-first approach.
He is currently completing AAT Level 4, and to progress toward ACCA, Dumi combines a hands-on operational expertise with a passion for continuous improvement. His work centres on using data, technology, and collaboration to enhance decision-making and drive strategic outcomes. Dumi believes that the role of credit and collections extends far beyond cash management and that it’s about creating value, building trust, and enabling sustainable business growth. I like spending time with my wife and two kids and value time with family and close friends. His interests range from chess, reading, music, and cooking to enjoying being outdoors, camping, hiking, or exploring new places and countries. I love travelling and learning about different cultures through their food, history, and languages. He also likes to write and is currently working on a children’s book that introduces accounting sciences and the world of AR in a fun and simple way.
Arvind Kumar, Credit Control Manager at Country Style Foods and CICM Regional Representative for Yorkshire & Humber
Arvind is a Credit Manager with 15 years of experience in commercial credit management across construction, engineering consultancy, facilities management, and FMCG. This year, he took on a new role as Credit Control Manager at Country Style Foods, a leading UK food manufacturer supplying top quality bakery products to major retailers and the foodservice sector. Prior to this, he spent five years as Credit Control Manager at Horizon Platforms, an employee-owned powered access company providing nationwide hire, sales, and training services.
Throughout his career, Arvind has led transformation projects including ERP system implementation, credit policy redesign, credit insurance strategy, and the introduction of data-driven credit scorecards that have strengthened visibility, decision-making, and collaboration across departments. His focus is on turning credit control from a reactive function into a strategic business partner that drives performance and growth.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM), Arvind also represents Yorkshire on the CICM Advisory Council, where he helps ensure the profession remains relevant, connected to real-world business challenges, and well supported across the region.
Outside of work, Arvind is kept on his toes by his one-year-old daughter and enjoys playing and watching football, as well as spending time with family and friends.
More speaker profiles will be shared soon.
*There is a limited number of passes set aside for suppliers: Costs start at £ 199+vat per pass for DCAs. Other suppliers’ costs start at £ 299+vat – these passes are limited
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