Credit Management Jan:Feb 2019

CSA appoints new Head of Policy
THE Credit Services Association (CSA), the
voice of the UK debt collection and debt
purchase industries, has appointed Henry
Aitchison, a former senior executive with
the FCA and OFT, to the newly-created role
of Head of Policy.
Henry, who has a career spanning
almost 20 years in consumer credit, will
have a broad role supporting the CSA
executive team in identifying key policy
issues and developing a clear strategy to
support the Association's principal aims
and objectives. He will also be responsible
for developing and maintaining an
active Public Affairs (PA) programme,
ensuring that the Association's views
and membership goals are represented in
the formulation and adoption of current
and future UK and European policy and
legislation.
Henry joins the CSA from the Finance
The CSA is looking to
further enhance its
influence in a number
of key areas, and Henry
will help us in shaping
the future agenda, rather
than the agenda shaping
us.
& Leasing Association (FLA) where he was
Senior Policy Advisor. This followed more
than 15 years with the OFT and FCA in
similar advisory roles, and with a particular
focus on consumer credit and protection.
John Ricketts, President of the CSA,
says the appointment of a dedicated
Head of Policy resource will add further
weight and bandwidth to the Association’s
commitment to members: “Our ambition is
to be even more proactive in determining
future issues and regulation that
impact our members, and Henry’s
knowledge and experience will play a key
part in putting the CSA on the front foot,”
he says.
“The CSA is looking to further enhance
its influence in a number of key areas, and
Henry will help us in shaping the future
agenda, rather than the agenda shaping us.”
csa-uk.com
Henry Aitchison
CSA Head of Policy
>NEWS
IN BRIEF
R3 reports rise in
zombie companies
OVER one in ten (11 percent) UK
companies is just paying the interest on
its debts, rather than repaying the debt
itself, according to R3.
Based on a survey of 1,200 companies,
the research also found that one in six
(16 percent) businesses are having to
negotiate payment terms with creditors;
one in ten (12 percent) are struggling
to pay their debts when they fall due;
and eight percent would be unable to
repay their debts if interest rates were to
increase by a small amount.
Stuart Frith, President of R3, says rising
interest rates will have also contributed
to businesses stumbling into ‘zombie
business’ status: “The future for these
‘zombie businesses’ is mixed. Some might
eventually be able to restructure or find
new investment and grow. Others will
run out of road and become insolvent.
While this would mean capital could
be ‘recycled’, it may also be a bit of an
economic shock in itself.”
The UK’s insolvency and restructuring
framework is highly rated by the OECD
for its zombie-busting powers, and the
Government recently announced plans
to improve the UK’s business rescue and
restructuring options.
r3.org.uk
Arthur Critchley: An appreciation
ARTHUR Critchley FCICM and Meritorious
Service Award recipient was a true
gentleman who even at 90 always made
time for everyone he met. To me he was a
much-loved friend for over 30 years who,
along with his wife Pat, supported me for
the 12 years I served on the Merseyside and
North Wales Branch Committee including
six of those in the capacity of Chairman.
I met Arthur and Pat in 1987 at my first
Merseyside & North Wales ICM Branch
meeting. They always came as a pair and it
was very unusual for Arthur to arrive at a
meeting on his own. As a founding member
of the Branch Arthur knew everyone in the
room and was full of enthusiasm for all
things debt related and those of us working
in the profession.
Arthur would sit and chat to everyone,
sharing his knowledge and more than a few
entertaining stories of what he had got up
to during his career carried out long before
mobile phones, email and Google had
become commonplace in pursuit of chasing
down a debtor.
Arthur did it the hard way, knocking
on doors, questioning neighbours, sitting
outside businesses early in the morning all
over the country waiting for them to open
up so he could politely point out the need
for a payment to be made especially as he
had spotted a nice car or van pulling into
the Director’s parking spaces.
He and Pat were our official ‘meeters
and greeters’, a role they carried out with
a warmth that really made people want to
return. When it was conference time they
would be at the Albert Dock before 07.00am
welcoming exhibitors, making sure they
had everything they needed, especially
their breakfast! They were the real stars of
the day who past delegates wanted to see
again.
Arthur and Pat did so much for the
Branch over many years, especially with
the Students. Not too long ago exams were
taken in a classroom environment with Pat
and Arthur officiating every session and
offering words of encouragement to anyone
suffering last minute nerves.
I nominated Arthur for a much-deserved
Meritorious Service Award 20 years ago and
he said that when the letter arrived, he sat
on the edge of the bed with the letter in his
hand and for once was lost for words.
He was married to Pat for 69 years,
and nothing was more important to him
than his family. His two other loves were
Jazz and his Labrador Gwladus (Gladys
in English), a stray that Arthur and Pat
‘looked after’ for 12 years! In Gwladus’ latter
years the two of them could be found going
along the promenade near their home with
Arthur in his motorised scooter complete
with go faster stripes and Gwladus trotting
alongside.
Lynne Mills FCICM
The Recognised Standard / www.cicm.com / January / February 2019 / PAGE 9