Executive Changes: New Managers in Sales and Collections at Lowell Group

Leeds-based Lowell Group, widely acknowledged as the UK’s leading debt purchasing company, has recruited two new highly experienced managers to further strengthen its senior management team.

Phil Hickson has been appointed in the new role of sales manager for the Group and Robert Taylor has been recruited as collections manager.

Phil Hickson has spent the last ten years as a senior business development manager at GE Money. In his new role at Lowell he is working closely with sales and marketing director Joyce Newman to build new and existing client relationships.

Robert Taylor has joined Lowell from Vodafone UK. As collections manager, he is responsible for the day-to-day running of Lowell Group’s call centre, ensuring it operates efficiently and compliantly. Prior to Vodafone, Robert spent several years with a leading consumer finance company working in collections, training and call centre management. Robert will work closely with head of collections, John Haywood.

Commenting on the Group’s latest appointments, chief executive officer James Cornell, said:

“These appointments will support continued business growth by strengthening both sides of our customer proposition. Phil will focus on building new and existing client relationships, whilst Robert’s focus is on building realistic and achievable repayment plans for our customers. Both are highly experienced in their respective fields and have excellent track records. I am sure they will make a big contribution to the Group’s continued success.”

About Lowell
Formed in 2004 Lowell Group (www.lowellgroup.co.uk) 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 each customer to agree a suitable and affordable repayment solution. 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.

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. 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.