Executive Changes: TransUnion Announces Three Appointments

TransUnion today announced three key appointments to its international Analytic and Decision Services team. This move will help businesses internationally with innovative services for fraud prevention, identity management, collections and risk management. Yukiko Ko will be responsible for solutions development for International Fraud and Identity Management. Bhavna Bhagwakar will direct the solutions development for International Collections Management. Karin Chu will oversee the solutions development for International Risk Management.

"As the world becomes smaller, our customers desire a business partner that provides a global perspective in the areas of business analytics, fraud prevention and risk management issues, yet has insight into their specific market needs," said Joseph Gurreri, vice president, Analytic and Decision Services and general manager global solutions development. "Yukiko Ko, Bhavna Bhagwakar and Karin Chu, each bring many years of international experience and strategic counsel in meeting this global need."

These hires further deepen TransUnion’s commitment to its global customer base. With credit operations around the world in key regions and countries like Asia-Pacific, Latin America, India and South Africa, TransUnion is helping customers in these emerging economies maximize the application of credit information throughout the customer lifecycle, while minimizing various risk factors within their markets.

Ko will be responsible for leading solution development in international fraud prevention and identity management. Previously, Ko was the director of the global business strategy practice with Alston & Bird, LLP where she provided advisory services to Fortune 500 companies on data protection laws and electronic commerce policies in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe. Ko also managed the Access to Credit Coalition project for multinational financial institutions and credit bureaus while at Alston. She has held positions at international law firm Hunton and Williams, LLP and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She is a frequent speaker on policy and regulatory issues related to cross-border data flows and mobile banking. Ko holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Sophia University in Tokyo and a master’s degree in international relations from Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.

Focusing on international solutions development involving collections efficiency, Bhagwakar brings 25 years of experience in automotive and retail finance operations. Most recently she was a program manager at Volkswagen Credit, Inc., advancing steadily throughout Automotive Finance Operations in the areas of collections, asset recovery, business continuity and vendor relationship management. Her efforts in streamlining business processes and aligning them with technical capabilities resulted in significant cost savings and increased revenues for the organization. Bhavna also has extensive retail finance and operations experience from JCPenney Credit Service Center. Since 1985, she held various positions with progressively increasing levels of responsibility with a focus on collections, operations, and customer service. Bhavna earned a bachelor’s degree specializing in business and finance and a Master of Business Administration in International Business from Roosevelt University.