The board aims to provide independent perspective to decision-making and act in the best interest of the company stakeholders. They also support the CEO and Senior Management team and have responsibility on the board sub-committees.
- Home
- Our Team
Our Team
Chairman & Non Executive Directors
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
of varied experience across large global banks, as well as fintech and microfinance scale-up
businesses across emerging and developed markets.
Ali started his banking career with Citibank in emerging markets, initially specializing in
credit risk management and subsequently running Finance and Treasury functions for
Middle East & Africa Division as well as leading Citi’s Retail Bank in Egypt.
Over the last 16 years, Ali has been largely in the UK. He led Barclaycard UK’s consumer
credit card business and helped grow credit card provider NewDay, initially as Chief Risk
Officer and later as Chief Commercial Officer.
Ali feels strongly about the importance of banking and lending expertise being used to
improve the financial wellbeing of the less privileged among us, and indeed of society as a
whole. He previously led one of the largest microfinance banks in Pakistan, transforming it
into a digital lending platform focused on a large unbanked segment of South Asia.
![]()
of varied experience across large global banks, as well as fintech and microfinance scale-up
businesses across emerging and developed markets.
Ali started his banking career with Citibank in emerging markets, initially specializing in
credit risk management and subsequently running Finance and Treasury functions for
Middle East & Africa Division as well as leading Citi’s Retail Bank in Egypt.
Over the last 16 years, Ali has been largely in the UK. He led Barclaycard UK’s consumer
credit card business and helped grow credit card provider NewDay, initially as Chief Risk
Officer and later as Chief Commercial Officer.
Ali feels strongly about the importance of banking and lending expertise being used to
improve the financial wellbeing of the less privileged among us, and indeed of society as a
whole. He previously led one of the largest microfinance banks in Pakistan, transforming it
into a digital lending platform focused on a large unbanked segment of South Asia.
Senior Management Team
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Howard Bell
Chair of Board
Howard Bell has been Chair of Fair for You since 2015. Howard’s operational career has involved scaling and accelerating commercial growth for a number of now market-leading digital brands as Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Product Officer. He was a co-founder of PayPal Europe where he helped grow the company from pre-FSA/FCA licence to £200m revenues and to become an international brand across Europe.
Also beside, he served for several now market-leading digital brands, UK cybersecurity venture Content Technologies (which grew to a $1bn exit in 2001), Future50 JustGiving (which was revitalised resulting in a £95m exit), FutureLearn (which grew from a start-up to 5m users). Howard previously led transformation strategies as general manager at larger blue-chip organisations: Barclaycard and Dow Jones.
Today Howard is also chair for three other UK scale-up organisations and also works as an Operating Partner with Octopus Ventures where he helps CEOs of the 80 portfolio organisations with their scale-up strategies. He has advised and mentored over 60 companies.
Howard is happily married to Stephanie and has two spirited daughters.
Contact
LinkedIn
Howard Bell
Chair of Board
Howard Bell has been Chair of Fair for You since 2015. Howard’s operational career has involved scaling and accelerating commercial growth for a number of now market-leading digital brands as Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Product Officer. He was a co-founder of PayPal Europe where he helped grow the company from pre-FSA/FCA licence to £200m revenues and to become an international brand across Europe.
Also beside, he served for several now market-leading digital brands, UK cybersecurity venture Content Technologies (which grew to a $1bn exit in 2001), Future50 JustGiving (which was revitalised resulting in a £95m exit), FutureLearn (which grew from a start-up to 5m users). Howard previously led transformation strategies as general manager at larger blue-chip organisations: Barclaycard and Dow Jones.
Today Howard is also chair for three other UK scale-up organisations and also works as an Operating Partner with Octopus Ventures where he helps CEOs of the 80 portfolio organisations with their scale-up strategies. He has advised and mentored over 60 companies.
Howard is happily married to Stephanie and has two spirited daughters.
Contact
LinkedIn
Tom Levitt
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Fair Credit Charity
Since Tom ceased being a Member of Parliament in 2010, he has, through his writing and consultancy, tried to give meaning to the phrase ‘using the tools of business to create public good’. When the opportunity arose to help put Fair for You together, several years ago, Tom jumped at the chance. He believes Fair for You embodies perfectly what that phrase means.
Before serving 13 years as a Labour MP, Tom taught science in secondary schools. Since 2010 he has worked with businesses large and small, government, charities, councils, social enterprises and others to harness the massive power that business wields. Tom is a regular judge for the West London Responsible Business Awards and he co-wrote both a report on Business Schools and the Public Good and British Standard BS8950 on Social Value. Tom’s view is: “companies don’t have to choose between doing good and making money - they can and must do both, but fairly.”
Today Tom chairs the charity that owns Fair for You, the Fair Credit Charity, and is an advisor to the Centre for Responsible Business at Birmingham University. He is also a successful author and playwright, with three books on responsible business, two published novels, and three performed plays. Tom is also a proud season ticket holder at Brentford FC.
Contact
LinkedIn
Tom Levitt
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Fair Credit Charity
Since Tom ceased being a Member of Parliament in 2010, he has, through his writing and consultancy, tried to give meaning to the phrase ‘using the tools of business to create public good’. When the opportunity arose to help put Fair for You together, several years ago, Tom jumped at the chance. He believes Fair for You embodies perfectly what that phrase means.
Before serving 13 years as a Labour MP, Tom taught science in secondary schools. Since 2010 he has worked with businesses large and small, government, charities, councils, social enterprises and others to harness the massive power that business wields. Tom is a regular judge for the West London Responsible Business Awards and he co-wrote both a report on Business Schools and the Public Good and British Standard BS8950 on Social Value. Tom’s view is: “companies don’t have to choose between doing good and making money - they can and must do both, but fairly.”
Today Tom chairs the charity that owns Fair for You, the Fair Credit Charity, and is an advisor to the Centre for Responsible Business at Birmingham University. He is also a successful author and playwright, with three books on responsible business, two published novels, and three performed plays. Tom is also a proud season ticket holder at Brentford FC.
Contact
LinkedIn
Jennifer Duncan
Non-Executive Director
Jennifer has spent most of her career in government affairs and communications, often working at the intersection of profit and purpose. In 2020, she was named as the industry's Emerging Female Leader and was recognised as a Policymaker & Regulatory Expert – making the Women in FinTech Powerlist. Her experience includes strategy, scale-ups, business and product development.
Currently Vice-President for Government Engagement globally at Mastercard - leading innovation, outreach, and tourism. Jennifer focuses on addressing societal challenges facing governments, the wider public sector, and the citizens they serve. This includes leading Mastercard’s partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Jennifer has been a member of a variety of industry/government working groups and has led thought leadership on a wide range of policy issues. She is a passionate advocate for digital financial inclusion and is a co-founder of The Independent Financial Inclusion Commission in the UK.
Jennifer is also a former member of the UK Government’s Inclusive Economy Partnership and chaired Project Inclusion’ on behalf of The Payments Association. Before Mastercard, Jennifer held positions at Tesco Bank, Tesco Plc and DLA Piper.
Jennifer is a ‘Girls4Tech’ champion and a Women’s Leadership Network Mentor.
Contact
LinkedIn
Jennifer Duncan
Non-Executive Director
Jennifer has spent most of her career in government affairs and communications, often working at the intersection of profit and purpose. In 2020, she was named as the industry's Emerging Female Leader and was recognised as a Policymaker & Regulatory Expert – making the Women in FinTech Powerlist. Her experience includes strategy, scale-ups, business and product development.
Currently Vice-President for Government Engagement globally at Mastercard - leading innovation, outreach, and tourism. Jennifer focuses on addressing societal challenges facing governments, the wider public sector, and the citizens they serve. This includes leading Mastercard’s partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Jennifer has been a member of a variety of industry/government working groups and has led thought leadership on a wide range of policy issues. She is a passionate advocate for digital financial inclusion and is a co-founder of The Independent Financial Inclusion Commission in the UK.
Jennifer is also a former member of the UK Government’s Inclusive Economy Partnership and chaired Project Inclusion’ on behalf of The Payments Association. Before Mastercard, Jennifer held positions at Tesco Bank, Tesco Plc and DLA Piper.
Jennifer is a ‘Girls4Tech’ champion and a Women’s Leadership Network Mentor.
Contact
LinkedIn
Neil Edwards
Non-Executive Director
Neil is a practising interim CFO, specialising in high growth, private equity owned, technology and financial services organisations. He was most recently Finance Director for Saunderson House Ltd, and helped steer the business from private ownership to its acquisition by Rathbone Brothers plc.
Before Saunderson House, Neil was CFO for both property portal Zoopla, and online insurance broker Simply Business, The Sunday Times Best Company to Work for, 2015 and 2016. He is a seasoned e-commerce and financial services professional, having spent time in senior roles with Amazon, eBay, PayPal and MoneyGram.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, an MBA from Harvard Business School and originally graduated in Mathematics from Christ’s College, Cambridge. Neil believes that the corporate world has a responsibility far beyond the needs of the traditional shareholder, and is proud to be involved in Fair for You making a real difference to the everyday lives and well-being of many thousands of hard-working families.
Neil is married with three children, and in his spare time enjoys refereeing rugby and both playing and umpiring cricket.
Contact
LinkedIn
Neil Edwards
Non-Executive Director
Neil is a practising interim CFO, specialising in high growth, private equity owned, technology and financial services organisations. He was most recently Finance Director for Saunderson House Ltd, and helped steer the business from private ownership to its acquisition by Rathbone Brothers plc.
Before Saunderson House, Neil was CFO for both property portal Zoopla, and online insurance broker Simply Business, The Sunday Times Best Company to Work for, 2015 and 2016. He is a seasoned e-commerce and financial services professional, having spent time in senior roles with Amazon, eBay, PayPal and MoneyGram.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, an MBA from Harvard Business School and originally graduated in Mathematics from Christ’s College, Cambridge. Neil believes that the corporate world has a responsibility far beyond the needs of the traditional shareholder, and is proud to be involved in Fair for You making a real difference to the everyday lives and well-being of many thousands of hard-working families.
Neil is married with three children, and in his spare time enjoys refereeing rugby and both playing and umpiring cricket.
Contact
LinkedIn
Uma Cresswell
Non-Executive Director
Uma is an HR Executive with over 25 years global financial services and corporate experience having worked for ANZ Bank, AXA Rosenberg, Deutsche Bank and Cable & Wireless Communications.
Uma is President Emeritus of City Women Network and a Non-Executive Director on a number of Boards both in the private and third sector, whilst running her own international HR consulting business.
Uma has operated at C-Suite level executing multiple projects including regulatory reform, corporate governance, organisational design, EDI projects, talent acquisition/development, succession planning, HR transformation, and change management.
As a migrant from Uganda, Uma is passionate about supporting organisations with a social conscience and a higher purpose committed to creating a culture that is inclusive, supportive and that cares about the health and wellbeing of its employees (personal, physical, career and financial wellbeing) and the clients and communities they serve.
Uma is CIPD accredited, an NLP Practitioner and a Strengthscope coach – a natural connector who uses her wealth of experience, personal background, cultural heritage, and life experiences to transform people/things around her.
Outside of work, Uma’s teenage daughter, husband and Cavapoo keep her very busy! She is an ardent Leicester City season ticket holder and fluent in Hindi and Gujarati.
Contact
LinkedIn
Uma Cresswell
Non-Executive Director
Uma is an HR Executive with over 25 years global financial services and corporate experience having worked for ANZ Bank, AXA Rosenberg, Deutsche Bank and Cable & Wireless Communications.
Uma is President Emeritus of City Women Network and a Non-Executive Director on a number of Boards both in the private and third sector, whilst running her own international HR consulting business.
Uma has operated at C-Suite level executing multiple projects including regulatory reform, corporate governance, organisational design, EDI projects, talent acquisition/development, succession planning, HR transformation, and change management.
As a migrant from Uganda, Uma is passionate about supporting organisations with a social conscience and a higher purpose committed to creating a culture that is inclusive, supportive and that cares about the health and wellbeing of its employees (personal, physical, career and financial wellbeing) and the clients and communities they serve.
Uma is CIPD accredited, an NLP Practitioner and a Strengthscope coach – a natural connector who uses her wealth of experience, personal background, cultural heritage, and life experiences to transform people/things around her.
Outside of work, Uma’s teenage daughter, husband and Cavapoo keep her very busy! She is an ardent Leicester City season ticket holder and fluent in Hindi and Gujarati.
Contact
LinkedIn
Ali Chaudhry
Non-Executive Director
of varied experience across large global banks, as well as fintech and microfinance scale-up
businesses across emerging and developed markets.
Ali started his banking career with Citibank in emerging markets, initially specializing in
credit risk management and subsequently running Finance and Treasury functions for
Middle East & Africa Division as well as leading Citi’s Retail Bank in Egypt.
Over the last 16 years, Ali has been largely in the UK. He led Barclaycard UK’s consumer
credit card business and helped grow credit card provider NewDay, initially as Chief Risk
Officer and later as Chief Commercial Officer.
Ali feels strongly about the importance of banking and lending expertise being used to
improve the financial wellbeing of the less privileged among us, and indeed of society as a
whole. He previously led one of the largest microfinance banks in Pakistan, transforming it
into a digital lending platform focused on a large unbanked segment of South Asia.
Contact
LinkedIn
Ali Chaudhry
Non-Executive Director
of varied experience across large global banks, as well as fintech and microfinance scale-up
businesses across emerging and developed markets.
Ali started his banking career with Citibank in emerging markets, initially specializing in
credit risk management and subsequently running Finance and Treasury functions for
Middle East & Africa Division as well as leading Citi’s Retail Bank in Egypt.
Over the last 16 years, Ali has been largely in the UK. He led Barclaycard UK’s consumer
credit card business and helped grow credit card provider NewDay, initially as Chief Risk
Officer and later as Chief Commercial Officer.
Ali feels strongly about the importance of banking and lending expertise being used to
improve the financial wellbeing of the less privileged among us, and indeed of society as a
whole. He previously led one of the largest microfinance banks in Pakistan, transforming it
into a digital lending platform focused on a large unbanked segment of South Asia.
Contact
LinkedIn
The Senior Management Team is responsible for the day to day running of the business and meets weekly to oversee business performance and address any matters that require senior management team’s attention.
Simon Dukes
CEO
Simon became Chief Executive of Fair for You as well as its charity owner, the Fair Credit Charity, in October 2021.
For the three years prior to this, he was CEO of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (now known as Community Pharmacy England). There, he was responsible for negotiating the annual £2.6bn contract on behalf of all high street pharmacies for the provision of NHS services. His time there coincided with the coronavirus pandemic, and the funding that Simon and his team secured from Government proved essential in keeping pharmacy doors open during the height of COVID-19.
Before 2018, Simon was the Chief Executive of the UK’s fraud prevention service, CIFAS, where he substantially increased membership and revenue and successfully worked to increase the awareness of fraud within UK Government. During Simon’s tenure CIFAS for the first time prevented over £1bn of fraud loss in one year.
Simon’s early career was in the UK’s public sector where he held senior roles in defence and security as well as government communications and public affairs. He is a strong advocate for working collaboratively for the public good, and treating people equally and with dignity. A natural fit for Fair for You!
Simon is also Chair of the medical research charity Antibiotic Research UK.
Contact
LinkedIn
Simon Dukes
CEO
Simon became Chief Executive of Fair for You as well as its charity owner, the Fair Credit Charity, in October 2021.
For the three years prior to this, he was CEO of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (now known as Community Pharmacy England). There, he was responsible for negotiating the annual £2.6bn contract on behalf of all high street pharmacies for the provision of NHS services. His time there coincided with the coronavirus pandemic, and the funding that Simon and his team secured from Government proved essential in keeping pharmacy doors open during the height of COVID-19.
Before 2018, Simon was the Chief Executive of the UK’s fraud prevention service, CIFAS, where he substantially increased membership and revenue and successfully worked to increase the awareness of fraud within UK Government. During Simon’s tenure CIFAS for the first time prevented over £1bn of fraud loss in one year.
Simon’s early career was in the UK’s public sector where he held senior roles in defence and security as well as government communications and public affairs. He is a strong advocate for working collaboratively for the public good, and treating people equally and with dignity. A natural fit for Fair for You!
Simon is also Chair of the medical research charity Antibiotic Research UK.
Contact
LinkedIn
Emma Goodwin
Deputy Chief Executive
Emma is a Chartered Accountant and ICAEW member with over 13 years’ experience in a wide variety of accounting disciplines including external audit, financial accounting, financial planning and analysis, risk management and internal controls.
Initially starting her career as an Audit Manager with Deloitte in Birmingham she has subsequently held management positions across multiple finance disciplines in FTSE listed businesses including Compass Group and Paragon Group of Companies.
Emma joined Fair For You in 2018, originally as the General Manager, as she was keen to merge her significant commercial experience with a socially responsible enterprise to deliver change within the credit sector. During this time, she has helped the business to grow three-fold and delivered its most significant investment deal with Fair4All Finance for a value of £5 million in 2020. Emma also helped to convert £2.5 million of capital from the company’s existing investors to deliver the first-ever perpetual bond to fund affordable credit.
As Deputy CEO, Emma manages Fair for You’s existing and prospective investor relations as well as running the Finance, Marketing, Operations and Compliance functions.
Emma has a BSc Honours degree in Psychology from Newcastle University.
Emma Goodwin
Deputy Chief Executive
Emma is a Chartered Accountant and ICAEW member with over 13 years’ experience in a wide variety of accounting disciplines including external audit, financial accounting, financial planning and analysis, risk management and internal controls.
Initially starting her career as an Audit Manager with Deloitte in Birmingham she has subsequently held management positions across multiple finance disciplines in FTSE listed businesses including Compass Group and Paragon Group of Companies.
Emma joined Fair For You in 2018, originally as the General Manager, as she was keen to merge her significant commercial experience with a socially responsible enterprise to deliver change within the credit sector. During this time, she has helped the business to grow three-fold and delivered its most significant investment deal with Fair4All Finance for a value of £5 million in 2020. Emma also helped to convert £2.5 million of capital from the company’s existing investors to deliver the first-ever perpetual bond to fund affordable credit.
As Deputy CEO, Emma manages Fair for You’s existing and prospective investor relations as well as running the Finance, Marketing, Operations and Compliance functions.
Emma has a BSc Honours degree in Psychology from Newcastle University.
James Wilkinson
Head of Lending
James joined Fair for You in April 2019 as Head of Lending and Credit Risk. He has 20 years’ experience working for some of the major UK financial institutions. His past experience spans both the Retail and Commercial sectors of banking, mainly in Project Management, Business Analysis and Credit Risk roles.
He has spent many years working with automated system decision software, using various credit data sources to increase operational efficiencies and provide accurate credit decisions in line with risk appetite.
At Fair for You he has created an effective automated lending strategy that has managed credit risk, enabled the business to efficiently manage higher volumes and deliver steady growth over the last few years. This has been achieved amidst the backdrop of a prolonged period of turbulence in the sector where Fair for You operates.
He has a strong passion to deliver as many positive customer outcomes as possible. He enjoys finding innovative and alternative ways to be able to lend safely and provide essential finance to households that are traditionally excluded by mainstream financial solutions, or have previously been exploited by predatory lenders.
Contact
LinkedIn
James Wilkinson
Head of Lending
James joined Fair for You in April 2019 as Head of Lending and Credit Risk. He has 20 years’ experience working for some of the major UK financial institutions. His past experience spans both the Retail and Commercial sectors of banking, mainly in Project Management, Business Analysis and Credit Risk roles.
He has spent many years working with automated system decision software, using various credit data sources to increase operational efficiencies and provide accurate credit decisions in line with risk appetite.
At Fair for You he has created an effective automated lending strategy that has managed credit risk, enabled the business to efficiently manage higher volumes and deliver steady growth over the last few years. This has been achieved amidst the backdrop of a prolonged period of turbulence in the sector where Fair for You operates.
He has a strong passion to deliver as many positive customer outcomes as possible. He enjoys finding innovative and alternative ways to be able to lend safely and provide essential finance to households that are traditionally excluded by mainstream financial solutions, or have previously been exploited by predatory lenders.
Contact
LinkedIn
Chris Bennett
Chief Commercial Officer
Chris joined Fair for You in 2015 to support the setting up of the company and obtaining its FCA authorisation. Being integrally involved during the start-up phase of Fair for You has provided Chris with experience in, and knowledge of, multiple business areas as well as the wider consumer credit sector. He is now supporting the business as it transitions from start-up to scale-up.
As Chief Commercial Officer Chris is responsible for the commercial success of the business through product development and key partner management. Working directly with retailers, housing associations, local authorities, charities and more he supports the delivery of quality and innovative solutions for customers. Chris is also Company Secretary for Fair for You and its charity owner, the Fair Credit Charity.
For Chris, working to deliver solutions that provide positive change for families as well as ensuring they are sustainable is extremely rewarding. Hearing directly from customers how developments have provided access to products and services that would have otherwise been impossible, and the impact that this access has made, is part of what makes the role so satisfying.
Chris has been a registered Fellow of the RSA since 2019 and has a First Class Honours degree in Law from the University of Hertfordshire.
Chris Bennett
Chief Commercial Officer
Chris joined Fair for You in 2015 to support the setting up of the company and obtaining its FCA authorisation. Being integrally involved during the start-up phase of Fair for You has provided Chris with experience in, and knowledge of, multiple business areas as well as the wider consumer credit sector. He is now supporting the business as it transitions from start-up to scale-up.
As Chief Commercial Officer Chris is responsible for the commercial success of the business through product development and key partner management. Working directly with retailers, housing associations, local authorities, charities and more he supports the delivery of quality and innovative solutions for customers. Chris is also Company Secretary for Fair for You and its charity owner, the Fair Credit Charity.
For Chris, working to deliver solutions that provide positive change for families as well as ensuring they are sustainable is extremely rewarding. Hearing directly from customers how developments have provided access to products and services that would have otherwise been impossible, and the impact that this access has made, is part of what makes the role so satisfying.
Chris has been a registered Fellow of the RSA since 2019 and has a First Class Honours degree in Law from the University of Hertfordshire.
Steve Merry
Head of Digital and Technology
Steve joined Fair for You in August 2020, to head up our technology team. This role involves managing the specification, design and delivery of business change from large scale system replatforming through to proposition design, customer experience and business process. Other focus areas are the technology strategy and roadmap, system support, networking, infrastructure and vendor management. Steve is also the Data Protection Officer (DPO) for Fair for You.
Steve has previously worked in utilities sector for around 20 years prior to joining Fair for You. He worked in number of senior roles across the energy sector. This included leading large operational teams and outsource partners and management of smart meter roll out in different energy suppliers.
Steve has previously worked primarily for shareholder based organisations and finds it extremely rewarding to work for a mission driven organization where the sole focus is helping people. He is proud to be able to tell everyone he meets what does in his day job and everything Fair for You has achieved.
Steve has First Class Honours degree in Chemistry from Imperial College, London. He then studied for a PhD in Biophysics at Imperial College.
Contact
LinkedIn
Steve Merry
Head of Digital and Technology
Steve joined Fair for You in August 2020, to head up our technology team. This role involves managing the specification, design and delivery of business change from large scale system replatforming through to proposition design, customer experience and business process. Other focus areas are the technology strategy and roadmap, system support, networking, infrastructure and vendor management. Steve is also the Data Protection Officer (DPO) for Fair for You.
Steve has previously worked in utilities sector for around 20 years prior to joining Fair for You. He worked in number of senior roles across the energy sector. This included leading large operational teams and outsource partners and management of smart meter roll out in different energy suppliers.
Steve has previously worked primarily for shareholder based organisations and finds it extremely rewarding to work for a mission driven organization where the sole focus is helping people. He is proud to be able to tell everyone he meets what does in his day job and everything Fair for You has achieved.
Steve has First Class Honours degree in Chemistry from Imperial College, London. He then studied for a PhD in Biophysics at Imperial College.
Contact
LinkedIn