Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Thursday 22nd May
Milner Hotel, York
The return of the in-person Commercial Credit & Collections Conference series will continue on Thursday 22nd May at the Milner Hotel in York. 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 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.
· 12.35pm: 2025 Industry Leaders launch and Industry Recognition Award announcement, followed by Lunch and Networking
· 1.30pm: Insolvency and Late Payments: Strategies dealing with business challenges: How can data, analytics and technology help? Chaired by Brendan Clarkson from PKF Littlejohn Advisory, Speakers: Stephen Holmes from Novuna, Kulvir Ranu from Lavazza, Luke Sculthorp from CICM.
*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.
PKF Littlejohn Advisory is one of the UK’s largest and most successful accountancy brands. We provide a full range of audit, accountancy, tax and advisory services, and are experts at simplifying complexity – we’re particularly well-known for working with large, complex, high-profile businesses with challenging issues in fast-moving and highly technical areas. www.pkf-l.com
Voted as Debt Collection Agency of the Year, by the CICM – Global Credit Recoveries are specialists in global debt recovery, mediation and litigation. www.globalcreditrecoveries.com
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:
EVENT SPEAKER LIST AND PROFILES:
EVENT CHAIRS:
Brendan Clarkson, Director – Business Advisory at PKF Littlejohn
Brendan Clarkson has more than 25 years of experience in corporate lending and insolvency, working with businesses of all sizes, lenders, creditors and government bodies.
Brendan has built close relationships with solicitors, other professionals, banks and client companies in order to understand their debt management needs. He has also developed good working relationships with government organisations. He appreciates the range of debt recovery options available to organisations, and works hard to ensure their best interests are served.
Brendan has regular contact with the credit management profession through his involvement in credit circles across the UK. He has served as chair of Surrey and Sussex CICM and is heavily involved with the institute.
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:
Stephen Holmes, Senior Corporate Risk Manager – Novuna Consumer Finance
Stephen Holmes has over 20-years’ experience working in financial services. Starting his career in the UK banking industry he amassed experience working in corporate restructuring and recovery, before moving into corporate banking. Stephen moved into Risk Management upon joining Novuna Consumer Finance in 2018 where he now manages the Corporate Risk department, tasked with monitoring the thousands of UK retailers that partner with Novuna for the sale of consumer finance to the end customer.
Stephen is a strong advocate of collaborative working, innovation, and balancing risk mitigation with commercial considerations for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Kulvir Ranu, Credit Manager – Lavazza Coffee
Steven Kershaw, Head of Credit – Fleetmax SolutionsSteven Kershaw is a multi-award-winning Head of Credit with 26 years working in the credit arena and managing teams for 23 of those. Spreading over sectors such as Telecommunications (Mobile, Landline and Broadband). Transport (Vehicle Rental). And of late, since 2012, in the B2B Fuelcard sector.
He’s been the Head of Credit at Fleetmaxx Solutions Ltd since January 2021, building and growing a very experienced high-level results-delivering team. Fleetmaxx Solutions Ltd is an independent distributor for Shell, Esso, Texaco, UK Fuels, Key Fuels & other cards too. Our head office is in Scotland, with other offices in the UK.
Managing remotely from his “Shedquarters” in the back garden and travelling to the head office in Motherwell, Scotland to check in with the directors 2/3 days a month. The results delivered are nothing short of outstanding. To manage remotely successfully, you have to have a special motivation and dedication to deliver continual success to the business, being proactive and reactive to situations, ensuring team motivation and buy-in is maintained and enjoyed.
Steven specialises in building relationships to ensure his teams perform at an optimum level. This isn’t just within the credit team, but also ensuring the business works as one (Sales, Customer Services, Directors) and ensures everyone is aware of what impact the credit team has on a business with board level presentations shared to celebrate success with all stakeholders.
Ultimately, Cash is King, and Steven, with the credit team, are there to ensure working capital is fluid.
Martin Kirby FCICM, Order to Cash Transformation Leader – Batt Cables
Martin Kirby is a senior credit and risk professional with a proven track record of leading large-scale order-to-cash transformation in complex, high-growth environments. Currently at Batt Cables Ltd—part of Chiltern Capital’s portfolio—Martin is spearheading post-acquisition transformation, aligning people, systems and strategy to enhance working capital and operational performance.
Over a 20+ year career, Martin has held senior roles at Business Stream, Kier Group, Adecco UK and Bupa Healthcare. He has delivered consistent, measurable outcomes—recovering millions in working capital, significantly reducing DSO, and leading award-winning teams. His leadership has earned industry recognition including Credit Manager of the Year and Corporate Credit Team of the Year. Martin holds an MBA from INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools, equipping him with a global perspective on strategic finance, change leadership, and innovation.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (FCICM), Martin also serves on the CICM Advisory Board. He currently leads a national working party exploring the future of Artificial Intelligence in credit—focusing on its practical application, implications for the profession, and how organisations can embrace and train for its adoption. Martin is known for his strategic mindset, collaborative leadership, and passion for transformation. A frequent speaker and panel contributor, he champions the evolution of credit as a core enabler of commercial success. To introduce him with just a simple phrase would be “”Driving the future of credit through transformation, technology, and strategic leadership.
Luke Sculthorp FCICM, Head of Strategic Relationships, Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM)
Luke Sculthorp has been associated with the credit and collections industry for over fifteen years, working in consumer credit lending, third party collections, legal recoveries, high court enforcement as well as credit control. Before joining the senior leadership team at the CICM, Luke was appointed as non-retail credit control manager at United Utilities PLC. Luke leads the CICM Corporate Partnerships and Development Partnerships Programmes, assisting to embed best practice across UK & International operational credit teams.
Christopher Coppock, Head of Geopolitical & Economic Risk Analysis, Credit Specialities – Marsh McLennan
In his work for Marsh McLennan, a global professional services firm in risk, strategy and people, Christopher leads the Geopolitical and Economic Risk Analysis team within the firms’ Credit Specialities practice. Among a variety of offerings, the team provides political risk assessments and analysis, as well as sector-specific insights for clients and internal applications. Before joining Marsh, Chris worked at Darktrace on critical infrastructure cyber security issues, and he holds master’s degrees from Sciences Po, Paris, and the London School of Economics in international affairs and global security issues.
*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
EVENT PROMOTIONAL VIDEO:
EVENT GALLERY:
