Jeremy Hunt’s speech on 9th December heralds the (delayed) arrival of the anticipated reform of consumer credit in the UK…and much more. But will the fanfare live up to the industry’s expectations?

The financial services sector have faced unprecedented challenges over the last few years, particularly those involved in the provision of consumer credit. The sector continues to face macro economic challenges and customers continue to be pressured by the cost of living crisis, all of this against the backdrop of a global pandemic and fundamental regulatory form in the guise of the consumer duty.

At any other time, the sector would run towards reform of the Consumer Credit Act (and many other changes spotlighted in the Edinburgh Reforms), but for many the prospect of further driven change may leave them wondering how already stretched teams will respond.

Asset Finance Connect will be holding its first webinar of 2023 to brief members on the consultation, and to provide a Q&A session with Wayne Gibbard from Shoosmiths and a panel of industry practitioners.

• Understand what is being proposed
• Learn how your organisation can engage in the consultation process
• Put your questions to our expert panel lead by Wayne Gibbard, Commercial Clients and Strategy, Shoosmiths
• Want to be a panelist? If you have special knowledge of the review, are strongly in favour of the review, or have concerns you would like to air, and would like to participate then contact Edward Peck on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The full line-up of panelists will be announced very shortly.

Panel discussion:

• John Phillipou, Board Director, FLA, and Managing Director - SME Lending, Paragon Bank plc
• Steve Budd, Chief Operating Officer and MLRO at Investec Asset Finance Plc
• Nick Leader, CEO, Acquis
• Stephen Bassett, AFC asset finance community leader
• John Rees, AFC equipment finance community leader

As we approach the year anniversary of “one of the biggest frauds in UK asset finance”, what has the asset finance industry learnt from the Arena Television revelations? Nick Leader, CEO of Acquis and panellists will discuss the implications from Arena and look at the current situation surrounding the fight against fraud in the asset finance industry.

• What progress have the credit reference agencies and trade associations made so far?
• Will the memory of the latest fraud fade, before the finance providers have been able to act?
• If there was another similar fraud on the way, are we more likely to detect it next time?

Got a question you would like to put to Nick Leader and panellists? Tell us about it! Email your question to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bill Stephenson, a straight talking Texan with a lifetime’s experience working in leasing stood down as CEO of Rabobank’s world leading vendor finance provider, DLL in December 2021. Ten days later he took the reigns at HPS Investment Partners of the businesses global leasing platforms which include PEAC UK and PEAC Europe, two B2B finance independents focused on small and mid-size enterprises.  

Stephenson is now responsible for expanding PEAC’s global footprint providing financial solutions for manufacturers and distribution partners in Europe and the United States.

In this one hour interview, John Rees, leader of Asset Finance Connect’s equipment finance community will ask Bill why he decided to leave a mature global platform and build something completely different with the freedom to innovate, fail and disrupt.

Key questions John will be putting to Bill include:

• Why are all of the world’s leading bank owned asset finance companies now run by bankers and not specialist leasing professionals?
• Where are the opportunities where banks won’t play that provide exciting growth opportunities for independent finance providers?
• What are the key differences between the US and Europe – and how do these two large marketplaces differ?

Exclusive interview with a leading equipment finance captive and bank leader who started his career as a green protestor

• Deep-dive into Trumpf’s current global business model: – a blended solution which combines Trumpf’s bank operation alongside an external vendor finance operation. Why was it important for Trumpf to create a bank? What are the consequences of being a bank?
• How Trumpf are developing their pay-per-cut finance model – and reducing entrepreneurial risk through an innovative tie-up with insurers, Munich Re.
• Doerr’s personal views on sustainability – what an asset finance specialist and green campaigner really thinks about the industry’s green credentials.

John Rees, Asset Finance Connect's equipment finance community leader will be joined by Arnaldo Rodriguez, President at CSI Leasing Inc. and Simi Thapar, Chief Country Officer at CSI Renting India Pvt. Ltd. to provide a case study demonstrating how their global coverage and sophisticated asset management capability helps deliver on the commercial and ESG objectives of CSI, its partners and end user clients.

Key Outcomes and Takeaways:

• Understand how CSI leverages its comprehensive geographical footprint to provide great customer service across the globe.
• Listen to how a presence in India brings CSI a huge USP to its partners and end user clients.
• Discover how CSI manages the whole asset lifecycle from acquisition, mid life asset and contract management and end of lease to provide customer products that provide commercial value and promote sustainability.

• Learn how DLL is working with OEMs and finance seekers to help them meet their ESG objectives
• Understand how DLL is focussing on every aspect of the circular economy to increase asset utilisation and best practice management of the asset across its economic life
• Discover which finance products DLL are focussing on to deliver green solutions and how they are reducing traditional barriers to green leasing including reducing residual value uncertainty.

Few sectors have demonstrated the same level of agility and resilience as the asset finance services industry. As if a global health crisis wasn’t enough, the pressing global concerns on climate change has become a very real and urgent priority for everyone and it is clear that the asset finance industry is taking their seat at the table in the race towards net-zero.

In order to future proof businesses from further disruption, accelerate sustainable innovation and securing repeatable and scalable results; access to reliable data and a comprehensive view of operations will be the essential differentiator to success.

However, in a volatile market, any industry is only as strong as the system it runs on. Digitalisation will change your market, business, skills requirements and customer engagement regardless of whether you, your team and your business are ready for those changes or not.

We are delighted to be joined by Jochen Jehmlich, CEO at Société Generale Equipment Finance, to explore how the asset finance community can come up on top, see their businesses through the next decade and play a pivotal role in driving a circular economy.

With over 20 years at Société Generale Equipment Finance and having secured the #1 position of Asset Finance International’s “Asset Finance Europe 50” ranking as well as this year’s winner of the “Best Bank for Sustainable Finance” category by Global Finance Magazine; Jochen is a leader with a clear vision and commitment in being a sustainable solution provider and reliable partner to clients during this crisis.

Throughout the pandemic, the Société Generale Equipment Finance’s #StrongerTogether programme has offered flexible financing to covert frozen pipelines into funded deals and thus ensuring that many of their clients could stay afloat during times of unparalleled uncertainty.

With the increased appetite in green assets, Jochen is committed to growing their portfolio in sustainable, green and social business segments over the next 5 years.

IAFN’s founder Edward Peck will talk to Jochen:

• How to take proactive steps in anticipating the coming market changes, whether political, financial or consumer driven, and ensuring businesses are agile enough to survive and thrive in the new landscape.
• How the asset finance industry can respond to the global climate crisis.
• How to optimise advances in exponential technologies to derive key insights from data which are vital to the future of the business.
• How to safeguard investments and businesses against future disruptions and staying ahead of the competition

Do brokers need to disclose commission from lenders to their customers?

The recent Court of Appeal judgment (Wood v Commercial First Business. March 2021) appears to make it much more likely that a loan will be rescinded in cases where a broker was paid a commission by a lender, which was not disclosed to the borrower.

In a one hour webcast David Betteley will be interviewing an expert panel to discuss the implications for brokers and their funders as they consider whether or not to change long established business practice.

• Understand the real implications of the case.
• Fifteen minute briefing from Jo Davis, co-founder, Auxillias on Wood v Commercial First Business.
• Assess the experts views in a 45 minute moderated discussion lead by David Betteley.

All delegate questions will be answered by our panel – either during or after this event.

Topics to be discussed will include:

• The likely future implication for lenders and brokers as they seek to reduce risk, treat their customers fairly and stay competitive
• How lenders and brokers perspectives vary, and the experts' views on the best way forward
• Advice from equipment finance associations including the NACFB and FLA

• Original research by IAFN on the potential for using real time data in auto finance to improve key processes like assessing credit risk and managing defaults
• Insights from Alfa iQ director, Blaise Thomson, former chief architect for Siri Understanding on emerging technologies which determine the next best action
• Methodology insights from ctrl-shift  to determine and discuss the best use cases for real time data. How to manage innovation in a risk environment

Post pandemic, will you be ready to succeed in a customer-focused, environmentally sensitive, data-driven world?

From online services to environmentally aware finance models, COVID-19 has added rocket fuel to many pre-pandemic trends. Now, learn how two leading asset finance providers have harnessed the power of transformation to drive their own business forward.

In a webcast, Miles Rothbury, head of asset finance, HSBC UK, and Ian Durston, head of commercial performance, Global Financial Services, Jaguar Land Rover, will discuss:

• The Zoom generation - What faster digitalization means for personalized customer service and competitive differentiation
• Sustainable finance models - The growth of the circular economy and opportunities to develop pay-per-use and outcome-based finance
• Data is the key - Why data-driven organizations will be in a stronger position to make real-time decisions and deliver winning services