CPP management
Click on the images below to read the biographies of our Group Senior Management team.
Eric Woolley
Chief Executive Officer
Shaun Parker
Chief Financial Officer
Richard Coates
Group Marketing Director
Mike Kneafsey
Group Consumer Sales and Service Director
Neil Hamilton
Group IT and Business Services Director
Stephen Kennedy
Managing Director Northern Europe
Tim Haig
Director of Sales, UK and Ireland
Jason Walsh
Commercial Director, UK
Shirley Woolham
Head of Product and Marketing, Northern Europe and India
Gary Sidle
Finance Director, Northern Europe
Inji Duducu
UK and Northern Europe HR Director
Claire Sirett
Divisional Director, Business Solutions
Simon French
International Development Director
Matthew Toynton
Divisional Director, Travel and Lifestyle Services
Eric Woolley, Chief Executive Officer
As Group Chief Executive, Eric Woolley is responsible for developing and executing the Group's business strategy across Europe, North America and Asia. The Group's legal and compliance functions also report to Eric. Eric joined the Group in 2003 from an oil services company, Expro International Group Plc, where he was Group Finance Director. Prior to this, Eric was Group Finance Director of Vp Plc. Before working in industry, Eric spent several years with Credit Suisse First Boston where he was Vice President - Mergers and Acquisitions.
Shaun Parker, Chief Financial Officer
Shaun Parker is responsible for the Group's Finance, Tax, Treasury, Risk and Audit functions. Shaun joined the Group in 2003 from Diageo where he was Chief Financial Officer of Guinness North America prior to leading the cross-functional team that completed the integration of the acquired Seagram Wines and Spirits business. Previously Shaun worked for ICI Plc, and then Mars Inc. (Pedigree Petfoods) where he held a number of senior finance roles in Germany and the UK. Shaun has extensive international experience gained through a number of regional roles, and through working and living in Germany and the US.
Richard Coates, Group Marketing Director
Richard Coates joined the Group in 2003 and has led the marketing function at CPP for the past six years. Prior to joining the Group, Richard was Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning for the major hotel brand, and previously held positions with a number of high-profile US-owned marketing agencies. Richard's responsibilities extend across corporate strategy, business planning, brand strategy, product portfolio, and channel and market development. His qualifications include MBA from Leeds University Business School. Richard is a member of the Board of Governors at York St. Johns University.
Mike Kneafsey, Group Consumer Sales and Service Director
Mike Kneafsey has more than 20 years' experience of sales and marketing in the Financial Services industry. Before joining the Group in 2008 he was Regional Managing Director for retail banking at Barclays Plc in the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, leading a team of 5,000 staff. Previously Mike spent 17 years at HSBC, holding senior-management positions in its branch and contact centre businesses and with First Direct, before becoming Sales and Service Director for M&S Money.
Neil Hamilton, Group IT and Business Services Director
Since joining the Group in 2002, Neil Hamilton has been responsible for the definition and implementation of a new IT platform capable of meeting the Group's ambitious growth plans. Prior to joining the Group, Neil was the group IT director for the business process outsourcing division of Hays Group Plc. Before this, Neil was head of IT services for Perot Systems and has held a variety of other IT management positions.
Stephen Kennedy, Managing Director Northern Europe
Stephen Kennedy is responsible for the performance of the UK business as well as the development of the Irish, German and Turkish markets. He joined the Group in February 2005 from HFC Bank where he was a Director of several business units ranging from branch networks both in the UK and Europe to, more latterly, lending and central sales operations which included Hamilton Direct Bank, Marbles Loans and all group telemarketing activities.
Tim Haig, Director of Sales, UK and Ireland
Tim joined CPP in 2006 from Experian, where he served as Director in several sales, operations and service roles. Previous to this he spent 14 years in consumer finance running branch networks. He overseas all aspects of CPP”s sales in the UK and Ireland .Tim sees CPP as an extension of the business partners we serve and attempts at all times to be ‘easy to do business with’ so that partnerships are forged and maintained.
Jason Walsh, Commercial Director, UK
Jason joined CPP in 2002 and has held a variety of product and business management roles before coming Product Director in 2005, General Manager in 2006, UK Commercial Director in 2008 and Divisional Director in 2010. He is responsible for the overall strategy, operational effectiveness and business performance of the UK card protection, identity protection, mobile phone and legal insurance areas of the business. This involves overseeing the introduction of new products to CPP and ensuring current products are still effective and compliant. Prior to joining CPP, Jason worked in a variety of consumer finance roles for HBOS within the credit card and personal lending business.
Shirley Woolham, Head of Product and Marketing, Northern Europe and India
Shirley joined CPP in 1999 and has held a variety of senior product, marketing and commercial roles before becoming Head of Product and Marketing for the UK, Germany, Turkey and India. She is responsible for driving the product agenda across the regions, delivering the required P&L performance of the products and expanding the channels through which the products are sold by working heavily with Business Partners and sales teams within each territory. Prior to joining CPP, Shirley held a number of product and marketing roles in Green Flag Group.
Gary Sidle, Finance Director, Northern Europe
Gary Sidle is a qualified accountant with a MBA who joined CPP in April 2003 as the Senior UK Finance Manager and was promoted to Director in late 2006. Gary joined CPP from Pace Micro Technology Plc where he was Group Accountant and previously Gary was a Finance Manager at Proctor and Gamble. He is responsible for the overall UK and Northern Europe Finance functions, which involves overseeing and controlling all the commercial finance and accounting operations, including financial regulation.
Inji Duducu, UK and Northern Europe HR Director
Inji joined the CPP Group in 2008, and has more than 10 years experience in commercial HR management. Prior to joining she held a number of senior HR roles in HBOS, spending her last 2 years on the General Insurance management board as HR Director. At CPP she leads the development of people and organisational capability including talent and succession management, engagement, recruitment and retention as well as relevant legal compliance. She has most recently been appointed to the Leeds Employment Tribunal.
Claire Sirett, Divisional Director, Business Solutions
Claire joined CPP in 2001 and held positions in New Product Development before becoming Account Manager and then Account Director for the Barclays Group from 2004. In 2009 she moved to head up the newly created Packaged Services Division and then in early 2010 took ownership of Business Process Outsourcing which together with Packaged Services now forms the Business Solutions Division. Claire is responsible for the overall strategy and ensuring the division is successful by focusing on the provision of high quality service capability, sourcing innovative product content and taking a customer-centric approach to all that we do. Prior to joining CPP, Claire held a variety of marketing and product development roles within the Cable and Wireless group and T-Mobile.
Simon French, International Development Director
Prior to joining CPP in 2001, Simon held product management and market development roles with Legal & General and Equifax. Simon joined CPP in a business development role before becoming UK Sales Director in 2004 and subsequently taking on his current remit of International Development Director in 2006. Simon has initiated and managed launches of CPP operations in Turkey and India and has supported CPP’s market entry into Mexico and China. CPP’s Indian business reports to Simon and he is currently involved in the assessment and future launch of new global territories
Matthew Toynton, Divisional Director, Travel and Lifestyle Services
Matthew joined CPP via the acquisition of The Leapfrog Group in 2009. He is responsible for the strategy, business performance and operational efficiency of the CPP Travel and Lifestyle Services division that includes the Leapfrog Group product portfolio, Airport Angel and CPP’s Travel assistance products. Prior to joining CPP, Matthew worked within the Leapfrog Group for 3 years as Finance Director and Operational head and prior to that worked for 12 years at Procter & Gamble in a variety of consumer focussed finance roles.