The Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA) has appointed Russell Hamblin-Boone to a new position of Chief Executive Officer. Mr Hamblin-Boone will give a new voice and direction to CIVEA and its members at a time when the industry is facing a review of regulations and needs strong representation in policy debates.
Mr Hamblin-Boone was previously chief executive of the Consumer Finance Association, where he successfully led the major high-cost credit firms through a period of intense scrutiny and mistrust, in which they faced heavy criticism for poor business practice, to a position of strong sustainability and better regulation.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Hamblin-Boone said: “CIVEA is a strong organisation that is ready to move to the next level of engagement, which will give it the influence to shape policy on enforcement activities, maintain the highest standards of professionalism and become the centre of excellence for our industry. The appointment of a new CEO is the first step towards its ambitions and I am excited to start the journey.”
Mr Hamblin-Boone’s appointment comes ahead of the review of regulations under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act and the long-awaited enforcement agents’ fee structure. The industry is also facing demands from debt advice charities for a dedicated regulator.
Kevin McCarthy, President of CIVEA, said: “We are delighted to welcome Russell as our first Chief Executive Officer. He has an excellent mix of unique skills, unprecedented experience and a strong track record that will help us to make our case in the forthcoming policy discussions on the future of enforcement and collection activity.”
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Notes for editors:
CIVEA is an independently funded association which represents around 2000 enforcement agents operating in England and Wales.
Russell Hamblin-Boone Russell was appointed Chief Executive of the Consumer Finance Association the leading trade body for short-term (payday) lenders, in August 2012. He was responsible for collaborating with legislators and regulators and partnering with consumer organizations and other trade associations to raise standards in the short-term lending industry.
Throughout his career he has been involved in the leadership of trade associations. As such he has become a leading commentator, both through his work with policymakers and through his media profile. Prior to joining the CFA, Russell was Head of Communications at the Finance & Leasing Association and as Director of Corporate Affairs at the Energy Retail Association, he had a central role in setting up the first trade association dedicated to energy retailers, now known as Energy UK.
Contact: Russell Hamblin-Boone 07810 374110 dir-gen@civea.co.uk