Finance Monthly CFO Awards 2016 Winners Edition

www.finance-monthly.com Mark Hampton CFO at Collinson Group Firm Profile Founded in 1991, Collinson Group, the company who owns the renowned Priority Pass, the first international lounge access programme, operates in 17 countries with more than 2000 employees. It has grown at a rate of more than 20 per cent in the past two years and records a turnover of more than £350 million. In order to preserve the entrepreneurial spirit of the company, Colin Evans, its founder and Chairman, has kept the firm in private hands to this day. How has this private status helped the company thrive? “We have a culture of being alternative and disruptive, so without the external pressure to push up sales and profit figures every quarter, we can take a long-term view in the development of the company and take advantage of our nimbleness to react to opportunities as well as to experiment and innovate. “In the last few years we have experienced solid organic growth from existing clients and the successful launch of new propositions. With our business capabilities encompassing lifestyle benefits, loyalty, insurance and assistance, we place huge emphasis on collaboration to provide unique products and services to our clients while driving greater efficiencies across the group.” The analytical bent Mark naturally possesses as a CFO means that he is able to identify market opportunities and make strategic decisions to elevate the business to its next level. Despite strong organic growth Collinson Group does not shy away from acquiring firms that can further complement its own core capabilities and expertise. The latest example of which is the acquisition of idAlerts, a Toronto-based provider of identity protection solutions in Canada, in December last year, which has been incorporated into the globally accessible ID Assistance proposition offered by the Group. “The growing risk of ID theft and fraud has been fuelled by the exponential growth of internet usage, digital devices and personal online activity/data creation. Over 707 million records were leaked worldwide in 2015 alone as a result of data breaches and cyber attacks. Last year, identity theft rose by a third in the UK, 80% of which was online, while cybercrime offences totalled 2.5 million. With the introduction of ID Assistance, we support businesses that want to help their customers take the necessary steps to protect their identities. For businesses, demonstrating their commitment to customer security is critical and in offering the protection benefit firms can drive additional revenue and support customer acquisition, and retention.” As transacting online has become second nature, there is a clear market demand for ID protection. Research commissioned by Collinson Group amongst mass affluent consumers across 10 countries reveals that 57% of consumers regard ID protection as a highly valued product. Consumers who already use these types of ID protection services rated their perceived value at 72% compared to 32% of non-users. Nearly 60% of transactional banking globally is done online. The figure resonates with the research conducted by Collinson Group which shows that 81 per cent of affluent middle class customers use banking and finance apps – up from 69 per cent in 2014. “This is a double-edged sword for the industry. Whilst this growth gives banks a great opportunity to use the customer data to create a richer, more personalised digital experience, it also highlights the amount of customer data that could be at risk. New rules introduced by the General Data Protection Regulation, effective as of 2018, have the potential to fine firms up to €20 million or four per cent of their global turnover for failing to keep information as secure as they should have done. With its innovative spirit, financial agility and prudent management, Collinson Group has charted an upward growth trajectory, but with Brexit now an unknown factor on the horizon, how is the business coping with all the associated uncertainties? “As a global enterprise, we have an effective strategy and well-proven operational processes in place, along with a range of international network providers, to sustain top line growth amidst regional economic and political challenges. We will continue investment in our business to strengthen our capabilities, in particular within financial services and travel. With the rise of mass affluent consumers in emerging markets, the advance of digital technologies and its evolving impact on consumer behaviour, we anticipate there will be heightened market demand for our expertise and consumer insight in helping clients build customer loyalty and enhance customer engagement.” About Mark Hampton With more than two decades of track record in senior financial positions, Mark Hampton, CFO of Collinson Group, boasts a wealth of international experience. After spending eight years at Bupa, initially as Group treasurer in London and then as CFO of Health Dialog, a care management company based in Boston, Massachusetts, Mark joined Collinson Group in 2013 to take over stewardship of the Group’s strategic financial management. Mark’s remit, however, is not confined to the traditional arenas of finance such as budgeting and reporting, tax, and treasury. With the Group’s business interest spanning across the world, Mark plays an instrumental role in shaping the company’s global strategy as well as ensuring its delivery is underpinned by sufficient financial and human resources. He also has responsibility for HR, Legal, Information Security and PMO across the group. UK Finance Monthly CFO Awards 2016 Contact Details Mark Hampton Chief Financial Officer Collinson Group Web: www.collinsongroup.com 29