Thames Valley Branch Committee Biographies
 Gary Baker MCICM(Grad) Chair |
Currently Chairman of the Thames Valley Branch and have spent the last 8 years working for Verizon in Finance (Bill to Cash). Current role is a governance one overseeing an outsource operation in India and Poland. Prior to Verizon 14 years were spent managing teams in a number of debt collection agencies including one in Australia. First job after college was working for Barclays Bank (5 years). |
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 Jason Braidwood FCICM(Grad) Vice Chair |
Currently Vice Chairman of the Thames Valley CICM branch and is FCICM(Grad) – qualified in 2001. Has over 23 years of experience in Credit Industry and current role is Head of Credit and Collections for Business Information provider Creditsafe Group which also involves chairing Credit Round Table events and Credit Circles. Previous roles include Head of Credit for ATS Euromaster (11 years), British Gas (2 years) and Credit Manager for Factoring and Asset Based Lending companies. Also held a consultancy role with Experian for 7 years that included expertise in Credit Risk, Collections, Policies and Procedures. Heavily involved with CICM HQ in supporting Education matters, Think Tank meetings, Masterclasses and other events. Holds UEFA coaching badge and enjoys coaching football to children and adults as well as spending time with his wife Louise, daughter Olivia and son Alexander. |
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 Peter Courtnage MCICM Treasurer |
Head of Credit Management for Alphabet (GB), part of BMW Group Financial Services and I have held this position since 2012. Prior to joining BMW Group in 2009 I worked for Barclays for 20 years in a variety of roles predominantly in Corporate Relationship Banking. |
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 Dee Weston FCICM Secretary |
I have worked in the credit industry for many years, and the last 20 years in the IT sector. I am the Credit Manager for a Global IT Distributor, and recently became Secretary for the Thames Valley branch of the CICM, which I thoroughly enjoy and still learning so much. My company recently became QICMQ accredited which was a wonderful achievement as it recognised the professionalism credit delivers to a business. My husband Paul has learned to live with many late nights because of work, but thinks it is a bonus as I rush in with a takeaway – not good on the waist line though. My role is very rewarding, although trying and requires extreme patience, but I would not change it. |
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 Ruth Howard ACICM Membership |
I am the Membership Officer of the Thames Valley Branch and have spent the last 14 years working for Verizon in Finance (Bill to Cash). Current role is an Issue Resolution Specialist handling escalated billing and payment related disputes for our European operations. Prior to my current role, I was a Credit and Collections Team Leader and have also spent time working in Debt Recovery. I have also worked in Factoring industry was a Credit Controller at Bonham’s Auctioneers and Angels & Bermans Costumiers in London. I really enjoy meeting our new members, promoting the CICM to local secondary schools and colleges and attending our regular events. |
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 Jon Swan FCICM Committee Member |
Head of Credit Services at Hachette UK. Jon has been in Credit Management since 1983 when he joined Calor Gas. In 1989 he joined VCI in the Entertainments industry and stayed with them until 1996 when he joined the rapidly growing success story that was Dell Computers. In his ten years service with Dell Jon twice managed the UK Credit teams and spent several years as their EMEA Credit Manager. Jon left following the transition of credit control into India and set up a training and consultancy business which over three years saw a lot of activity training credit control mostly in County and District Councils. After a year working on contract in an EMEA role with Johnson & Johnson Visioncare Jon spent six months at Musgraves. In 2009 he joined Hachette (at the time the largest book publisher) as Credit Manager for the Bookpoint division, but is now Head of Credit Services for Hachette UK managing a team of over 30. Jon is a Fellow of the CICM and was on the Thames Valley Branch Committee for several years before leaving in 2006 but returning in 2014. |
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 Heidi Pocock ACICM Committee Member |
Heidi has spent the last 11 years working in collections and credit. She has been a member of the CICM, and a member of the committee for a few years now. She has achieved the CICM Level 3 certiification. She is passionate about promoting credit as a career and has attended a number of careers events with fellow members, and enjoys helping to organise branch events. She also sings in a local Rock Choir and is part of her company Toastmasters club/committee. |
