Steering Panel

Steve is an Industry Expert with over 35 years of extensive experience in banking and working capital in global markets.
He currently holds several Senior Strategic positions for a number of NBFI fintech companies and industry associations, including:
• Chairman of both Accelerated Payments Ltd. and Smart Business Link Ltd.
• Strategic Advisor to WOA (World of Open Account), Lendscape, CF2H and OCI Ltd,
• Ambassador at Channel Capital Advisors LLP
• Founder and MD of Kata Executive Consulting Ltd.
Steve has previously held a variety of domestic and international roles, including Head of Europe/UK at Falcon Group, International CEO of Europe/Asia and North America at Bibby Financial Services, Global Head of Receivables Finance at HSBC (operating across 30 countries), European Head of Trade, Supply Chain, Commodities and Receivables Finance and CEO at HSBC Invoice Finance (UK) Ltd, Trade Finance and Equipment Finance Ltd (UK) and has been a Strategic Adviser to Hitachi Capital, Drayton Finch and Muse Ltd.
He was previously Chairman of the Asset Based Finance Association (UK), Board and an Exec Committee member of both International Factors Group and Factors Chain International.

John Brehcist is an acknowledged expert in the Receivables Finance world. Previously the Head of Strategy for Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, for over twelve years he has run his successful roundwindow consultancy business working with clients (from start-ups to established leaders, from emerging to developed markets) in over twenty countries, offering impartial advice and constructive support on strategy, marketing, operations, people, risk and fraud control. He has combined this with taking a range of non-exec director roles, been Director of Advocacy at FCI and the Coordinator of the EU Federation for Factoring and Commercial Finance, and since September 2019 a key member of the team at World of Open Account, WOA. John has an MA from Oxford and an MBA from Warwick. He is a well-known author, lecturer and conference presenter.

Kevin is committed to making Lendscape the technology partner of choice for banks and independent funders operating in the invoice finance, factoring, supply chain finance and asset finance markets.

He has spent over 30 years at the company, and during this time, he has held positions as Software Developer, Business Analyst, Product Manager, Product Director, Board Member and COO.

Kevin’s detailed understanding of the business, deep knowledge of the complex nature of secured lending products and the dynamics of an ever-changing market has given him a measured and unique perspective on technology and finance.

He leads Lendscape with a continuous programme of R&D and investment - working closely with its growing client base to ensure simplified SME finance solutions. This focus on investment has enabled significant company growth and Lendscape now employs a global team to support its technology, business development, and customer support initiatives.

While frequently requested for speaking engagements, as an author, Kevin has contributed to industry publications, including Financial Times, Business Money, and Euromoney, writing on topics such as digitalisation, open architectures, and cloud computing to drive new technology inn

Andy brings over twenty five years of Invoice Finance experience. Currently the Managing Director at Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance based in the UK, he began his career at Barclays Bank where he completed his banking qualifications before moving to roles at Euro Sales Finance and RBS. He was part of the management team which started Liquidity Ltd in 2004, an independent sales finance business based in the Midlands UK, and thereafter supported the transition of the business into Santander following their acquisition. A keen follower of technology, he is currently implementing a number of key projects which will bring radical change to the UK Invoice Finance market. Andy sees WOA as a great opportunity to attract, support and develop young talent into the industry.

Partner, specialized lawyer for banking law and capital markets law at Bette Westenberger Brink. Christian Faber provides legal counsel and advice to banks, factoring providers and fintech companies, including contract drafting for all receivable trade issues, digital product development, risk management, compliance issues, refinancing and litigation procedures.

Simon Featherstone, Strategic Advisor
Simon is working with Blue Compass LLP on new operating and financial models for the invoice finance space, principally across the Americas and has a diverse range of experience in financial services spanning almost 30 years. Most recently, he was the Managing Director of the Business Finance division at specialist bank Shawbrook. Before joining Shawbrook, he was Global Chief Executive of Bibby Financial Services (BFS), the world’s largest non-bank invoice and trade finance business and prior to BFS, he was Managing Director of Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance and Network Director of Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.
Simon has served as CEO and subsequently Chairman of The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC) Plc and as the Deputy Chairman of the UK trade body The Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA), as well as on the Board of the global trade body, International Factors Group.
He has also served as a Non-Executive Director on Bibby Distribution and Bibby Offshore Boards and currently advises a number of SME-focused businesses.

Partner at Mishcon De Reya, Steven Geerlings concentrates on structuring cross-border asset-based lending transactions and work-out strategies. His client base includes all major players in the European ABL market, ranging from Dutch and UK clearing banks, various clearing banks in other EU member states and subsidiaries of US banks, to other regulated and unregulated financial institutions. Steven is recognized as being one of the leading advisers in the European market.

Olena Gryniuk is CEE Regional Director at SME Banking Club, responsible for the development of the SME Banking Club in the CEE region. Before getting involved in the SME Banking Club activities, she was in charge of SME products and sales in Raiffeisen Bank and Eurobank groups, having 10 years of banking experience.
About SME Banking Club
The SME Banking Club was established by a team of former SME bankers in 2010 as a professional network of bankers to exchange information and experiences in the segments of micro, small and medium-sized businesses. The SME Banking Club organizes regional SME banking conferences and webinars that bring together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation and promote the growth of SMEs in the region.
Moreover, it provides its members with access to detailed analytical market reports and annual studies. SME Banking Club’s main activities are concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe.

Frank Guan is Managing Director of International Trade Finance Committee (ITFC) affiliated to Shanghai Pudong International Finance Institute who connects to 1300 memberships of banks and financial institutions and 3200 non-banking financial companies in China (www.spif.org.cn).
Frank Guan is Head of International Factoring Promotion Working Group affiliated with China Factoring Expertise Committee (CFEC, www.cfec.org.cn).
Frank Guan is Risk Committee Board Member of China Factoring Expertise Committee (CFEC, www.cfec.org.cn).
Frank Guan is the Dean of Shanghai Dag Blockchain Academy (www.daige.com.cn).
Frank Guan has been as the General Manager of China International Factoring Co., Ltd which is the leading International Factoring company in China for years.
Frank Guan has 18 years of experience, primarily in cross border project financing, cross border working capital finance, international supply chain finance, risk management, international settlements, corporate management, executive leadership.

Founder of Atlantic RMS Group with offices in Chicago and London.
Expert in International Collateral Diligence, Risk Management, Strategic Consulting, Work Outs and Cross Border Field Exams. Lecturer and Presenter at various conferences in USA and Europe. Provides specialised in House Training in respect of Asset Based Lending, Risk and International Trade. Specialties : Consulting, Advisory, Cross Border Finance, Trade Finance, Training and Trouble Shooting.

Gideon Jones studied Law before joining UK Government, Export Credit Guarantee Department. His career has focussed on risk management within the credit insurance industry including leading roles in Special Risks Underwriting, Claims, Recoveries and Collections always in an international environment. He was centrally involved in merger and acquisition activity within the current Atradius Group, established Risk offices in Asia and was the founding director of Atradius Collections in UK. Now within Atradius Collections, Gideon develops strategic partnerships globally with a special focus on Financial Institutes and is centrally involved in Atradius Group innovation and technology forums. Gideon is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management. He is married with two children and based in Cardiff, UK.

Founder and CEO of A.B.S. Global Factoring.
Thorsten is working in the invoice finance space since 1996. After graduating with his studies at the University of Regensburg with focus on finance and strategic management he founded A.B.S. Global Factoring AG in Wiesbaden, Germany. Today A.B.S. Global Factoring AG is Germany’s largest non-bank invoice finance business. In 2011 Thorsten started spreading out his business activities across Europe with acquiring and building up seven more companies in the invoice finance industry in different domestic and European markets. Nowadays the A.B.S. Group is active in the German Speaking Area (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) as well as in Scandinavia and South-East Europe. Until today Thorsten is the main owner and the Head of the Group. In the Wiesbaden-area where the headquarter is located he supports a lot of social and cultural projects and on a national and European level he is very much involved in promoting the SME’s economical environment.

Alexandros has a factoring experience of over twenty years. He is founding C.E.O of NBG Factors S.A (www.nbgfactors.gr) a 100% subsidiary of National Bank of Greece (www.nbg.gr), the oldest banking institution in Greece with over 170 years of history. He has served as Head of Business Development for Trade Finance products in National Bank of Greece (2008-2009), as Head of Factoring Division in Bank of Cyprus (Greece 2002-2008) and Senior Account Manager in ABC Factors (Greece 1997-2002). He is chairing the Board of Hellenic Factors Association (www.hellenicfactors.gr) for second term in which he has been member of the Board since 2009. He is also member of the Economics and Statistics Committee of EUF (www.euf.eu.com) and member of C-level think tank of World of Open Account Community (https://woa.community). He has lectured a number of conferences and authored various articles on Factoring. He holds a Master’s Degree on Accounting and Finance from the University of Manchester, UK and a Bachelor’s degree in Financial and Banking Management from the University of Piraeus, Greece.

Presently Factoring Coordination Manager for 12 factoring units in CEE at Raiffeisen Factor Bank AG in Austria, Simon Peterman was previously Member of Management Board of Invictus FS, Slovenia, Head of Transaction Banking Product Management at Erste Bank; Member of the ICC Global SCF Steering Group, Chairman of the CEE Chapter of FCI, Netherlands and started his career as a credit insurance underwriter at the Slovene Export Credit Agency.

Former Executive Chairman of White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC, (fka Capital Business Credit), the company he owned and operated with Perry Capital, an investment management firm, from 2005 until its acquisition by White Oak Global Advisors in December 2016. Previously, Andrew Tananbaum was president and CEO of Century Business Credit Corporation, before selling it to Wells Fargo in 1998. Previously, he worked for the Merban Corporation, am emerging market international finance company, and as an associate for Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Mr Tananbaum also served as a law clerk to a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. He was an active member of the CFA, previously sitting on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. He received a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a BA from the University of Michigan.

Managing Director of BZIX Consulting & Management, specializing in Receivables Finance and Association Management. Erik was Secretary General of IFG from 2005 till 2015 and played a key role in the merger between IFG and FCI on 31/12/15. Post-merger Erik was Deputy Secretary General of FCI till 31/12/2017. He started his career in the factoring industry with International Factors Belgium. He has been one of the founders of the EUF. In March 2018 he received both the Life Time Achievement Award at the BCR RFIx conference and the Leadership in Receivables Finance Award at the Business Money Awards Dinner. In 2018 he founded World of Open Account (WOA) together with a group of industry experts. WOA’s mission is to be the Global Collaborative Competence Centre for more, better and safer Receivables Financing.