Credit Management January February 2020

BRANCH NEWS
THE first joint event
between East of England
and Kent Branches, called
Developing Credit in a
Changing Workplace and
held in November 2019,
saw every seat taken as CICM President
Dr. Stephen Baister FCICM welcomed
delegates from eight CICM Branches.
Stephen introduced Branch Committee
member Chris Parker of Goodman
Masson, the event’s host, who gave a
brief update, followed by Andrea Baker
of Inmarsat who talked through building
a global credit management team and
delivering the right results.
Kent Branch committee member,
Tracey Westell MCICM of Pecunia (2016)
delivered an energetic presentation on the
importance of training to give teams the
correct skills needed to protect cash flow.
Ron Bidwell MCICM of JLL, Katherine
Bailey FCICM of Valor Hospitality Europe
– both East of England Branch Committee
members – and Matt White of Cforia, led
an open discussion on how credit has
developed from back office collections,
using IT and other opportunities.
Following a delicious buffet lunch and
plenty of networking, Richard Seadon
FCICM of T.G.Baynes, and Kent Branch
The pace of change
East of England Branch
From left, Dr Stephen Baister FCICM, Stephen Cowan FCICM, Pete Whitmore FCICM and David Kerr FCICM
Chairman, demonstrated what good
credit management looks like and why
it’s vital in today’s environment. David
Kerr FCICM of Kerr Consulting talked
through existing and planned changes
to the insolvency process, covering prepacks,
Voluntary Arrangements and more.
David then took part in the Q&A forum,
being joined by fellow CICM Technical
Committee members CICM Chairman
Pete Whitmore FCICM, of Westcon
European Operations, and Stephen
Cowan FCICM of Yuill + Kyle.
Joanne Turley of ADP Architecture
won the business card draw, generously
sponsored by Cforia and presented by
Matthew White.
The conference feedback was
exceptionally good, especially about the
content, the speakers and the venue, and
both Branches thank Stephen Baister for
Chairing, and Goodman Masson for their
generous hospitality.
Author: Richard Brown FCICM
NORTH East Branch ended 2019 in
fine Christmas spirit with its annual
Christmas Quiz. We had a great turnout
(it was certainly a Branch Christmas
Quiz record), great atmosphere, great
catering and bar service by Nine Bar,
and fantastic prizes donated by our
generous sponsors and corporate guests.
(l-r): Hayley Townsend, Robyn Aisbitt, Jill Galbraith (Sintons), Janice Fielding, Michael Powell, Tony Blake,
Kevin Norcott, Andy Auriemma, Angie Deverick (Branch Chair), Stewart Irvine, Andrew Cawkwell (Manolete)
Quizards Triumph
North East Branch
The convivial vibe belied some steely
competitiveness, with everyone kept on
their toes with a hard-fought succession
of news, music and sports rounds –
devilishly put together again by our
Quizmistress Angie Deverick MCICM.
The evening ended with victory for a
mixed ragtag collection of wonderful folk
a.k.a. Janice’s Babes, who wrestled the
crown from the 2018 winners Muckle llp
to win the coveted Christmas mugs to
boot. The raffle prizes encouraged very
generous spending as well, for which we
thank everyone.
Author: Angie Deverick MCICM –
North East Branch Chair
Advancing the credit profession / www.cicm.com / January/February 2020 / PAGE 59