Executive Change: Lowell Group appoints Head of Strategic Projects

Lowell Group, the Leeds-based debt purchasing specialist, has recruited Samantha Crossley (nee Archer) from Experian to take on the newly-created role of Head of Strategic Projects.

Working closely with Lowell’s senior management team Samantha will be responsible for ensuring key development projects are successfully planned, managed and delivered.

A mathematics graduate, Samantha has over 10 years’ experience in the financial services sector successfully managing large-scale, complex projects on behalf of GE Capital, the Bradford & Bingley Group and, most recently, Experian Decision Analytics.

Commenting on her new role with Lowell, Samantha said: “I am passionate about leading large, multi-functional projects. Joining Lowell gives me a great opportunity to work with a group of young highly talented and motivated people in a successful business which has ambitious plans for future growth and development.”

James Cornell, Lowell Group’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Samantha is an important addition to our senior management team. She has excellent project management skills which we will be putting to good use. We are constantly coming up with new ideas and new projects to successfully develop the business for the mutual benefit of our clients, customers and shareholders.”

About Lowell:

1. Formed in 2004 Lowell Group is a specialist debt purchasing company. Lowell Group buys consumer debts from a range of blue-chip organisations and then manages the recovery of those debts, working closely with debtors to help them resolve their financial difficulties and pay off what they owe.
2. In April 2008 Lowell Group was acquired by Exponent Private Equity and existing management for an undisclosed value. Today the business employs more than 400 people at its state-of-the art HQ and customer contact centre in Leeds.
3. In recent years Lowell Group’s performance has earned it numerous awards. In November 2007 the company was named ‘Debt Purchaser of the Year’ at a national debt industry awards event and in March 2008 it was recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing businesses after being named ‘VC-backed business of the year’ in the Fast Growth Business Awards 2008.
4. Chief Executive Officer James Cornell was the Yorkshire Institute of Directors ‘Young Director of the Year 2007’ and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Bartle was awarded the ‘Developing the Team’ award at the 2008 Institute of Credit Management Awards.
5. In both 2008 and 2009 Lowell Group has been ranked No. 1 in an index of all the main credit management and debt collection companies in the UK, prepared by industry consultants OC&C. The index takes into account both past performance and future strategy.
6. In 2009 Lowell Group was placed second in the Sunday Times Deloitte league table of Britain’s 100 private equity-backed companies with the fastest growing profits. It also won the inaugural ‘Compliance Team of the Year’ award at the 2009 Credit Today Awards

For further press information contact: Steve Clark at Source Marketing Communications.  Tel: 0113 380 1644, Fax: 0113 380 1630, E-mail: steve@sourcemc.co.uk  Mobile: 07951 536236