Provident boss begins shake-up at troubled lender

THE NEW head of troubled subprime lender Provident Financial has ordered a management shake-up at the firm’s consumer credit business, days after the company issued its latest profit warning.

Manjit Wolstenholme, who took on the role of executive chairman after boss Peter Crook quit on Tuesday, has removed Andy Parkinson as managing director of the division as part of a review.

He will be replaced by Chris Gillespie, whose role will be “establishing relationships with customers, bringing collections back to a normal level, and stabilising the operation of the business”.

As part of turnaround efforts, Provident, which has around 2.5 million customers, launched a new home credit model in July with the aim of moving from selfemployed door-to-door agents to full-time “customer experience managers”.

But the lender warned earlier this week that the rate of progress being made is “too weak” and that its pre-exceptional loss this year is likely to be in the range of £80m to £120m, which resulted in shares plunging.

To compound the misery, the firm revealed that the Financial Conduct Authority is investigating a Repayment Option Plan Provident offers through its Vanquis Bank arm.

Ms Wolstenholme said on Friday: “My review of the business is ongoing as we move towards stabilising the Provident home credit business and improving the service to our customers.

“These are my first appointments and I intend to work closely with the new team on turning the home credit business around and to putting a plan in place to deliver good results for the company.”

Mr Gillespie has worked for the consumer credit division before, but stepped down as managing director in 2013 to pursue career opportunities elsewhere.

Provident shares rallied at the news, clawing back colossal losses suffered earlier in the week.