Global Credit Solutions | Regional Management

Janson Cheah
Regional Director - Asia Pacific

Co-founded and director of Milliken and Craig (GCS Singapore & Malaysia);
17 years of experience in international consumer & commercial credit & collection industries;
Graduated from National University of Singapore majoring in Economics & Statistics;
Fluent in English, Chinese & Malay and a number of Chinese Dialects;
Was guest speaker at several regional credit & collection conferences and training programs;
Enjoys cooking and fine wine and has been an audiophile longer than he can remember;

Ben Wong
Regional Director - China

Co-founder & Managing Director of Total Credit Hong Kong (GCS Hong Kong);
Foundation Chairman of the Hong Kong Credit & Collection Management Association - HKCCMA;
Director Asian region, International Unit of ACA International - Chairman 3 years;
In 2000, Ben was awarded ACA International's highest international honor, the "International Paul Bunyan Award";
In 2001, Ben was certified Master Credit Executive (MCE), the most prestigious certification offered by The Society of Certified Credit Executives (SCCE).

Samuel Omukoko
Regional Director - Africa

Managing Director of Metropol East Africa Ltd (GCS Kenya);
12+ years experience in the credit ratings & reporting industry;
12+ years practicing banker with Kenya's leading domestic commercial bank;
Bachelor of Science degree in Maths and Statistics from the University of Nairobi and CPA Accounting certificate;
Involved in financial services & capital market interventions: Development of credit curriculum for The Kenya Institute of Bankers (KIB), Chief Examiner in Strategic Marketing and Lending from 2000 to 2006;
Founding member & Chairman of the Examination Board (2002-04): Institute of Credit Management of Kenya (ICM-K);
Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB), UK and a Fellow of the Kenya Institute of Bankers (KIB);
Lead consultant in the SME credit scoring and Credit rating precess for the East African market, and the implementation of the SME scoring tool in the three banks in Kenya and Uganda;
Treasurer for the East African Credit Bureau Association (EACBA).

Carl Hackman
Regional Director - Europe

Litigation Director of CCI Legal Services Ltd (GCS UK);
15 years in private practice in London prosecuting and defending complex financial frauds. Has provided anti fraud advice to large public & private sector organisations;
Written many articles relating to the credit industry for a various publications;
Frequent guest speaker at AGMs and training events addressing a variety of legal topics as they relate to the credit industry;

Vitaly E. Shevel
Regional Director - The Baltic & CIS Countries

Co-founder & CEO of Global Credit Solutions Ukraine (GCS Ukraine);
Born in Saint Petersburg (Russia) in 1984, a citizen of Ukraine living in Kiev, Ukraine;
In 2007 graduated from the National University and Advocacy Academy with Masters of law;
In 2009 obtained a "Professional Certificate of Management' with the Open British University;
Worked with Coface Credit Management Services Ukraine 2005-07, serving as Attorney-at-law and later as lawyer;
In 2007 co-founded startup B2B collection agency, UkrDebt collection agency;
In 2008 joining GCS, as CEO of GCS Ukraine;
Spoken Languages - Fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, English.

Albert V. Knowles
Regional Director - Carribean

Founder & Managing Director of A.V Knowles & Co Ltd (GCS Caribbean);
Graduated from Grays Inn London as a Barrister at Law age 23.
Only Texaco Island Scholar from Trinidad & Tobago to read for the bar in England, in 1962;
Member of ACA International, IACC and CLLA;
Qualified with LLB honours at Kings College University in UK;
Inner Barrister at Grays Inn, London in1966 (Upper Second);
Former MD of T. Geddes Grant in Trinidad & Tobago;
Former Regional leagal advisor for Texaco Trinidad Ltd, based in Port of Spain;
Consultant & Chairman of three privately owned Companies in Trinidad & Tobago (employing over 100 direct employees in the A.V Knowles Group);
Spoken Languages - Fluent in French , Spanish, English.

Peter Sorrentino
Regional Director - North America

Co-founder and President of General Credit Services Inc. (GCS Canada);
Nominated for an Entrepreneur of the Year award by Ernst & Young in 2003;
25+ years experience in the credit and collection industry where he has worked for Fortune 500 companies, working to pioneer outsourced business processes in North America;
Acted as consultant to national and regional collection agencies & managed multiple volume international debt purchases;
Speaker and teacher for various groups including the BBB (Better Business Bureau), CGA (Credit Grantors Association) and the Venture Program;
Co-founded one of Canada's only privately owned EBPP (electronic bill presentment and payment) websites (www.generalbilling.com);
EMI recording artist, a respected music teacher and musician with his own recording facility, actively writing & recording various projects.

Octávio José Aronis
Regional Director - Latin America

President of Escritório de Advocacia Idel Aronis (GCS Brazil);
Born in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil in 1958;
Admitted to Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil - Secção São Paulo), in 1983;
Graduated in 1882 from Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas, São Paulo, and Extension At University Of Califórnia - Los Angeles in 1985;
Practicing in Criminal & Commercial Law;
Legal council of São Paulo´s Israeli Federation;
Conselor of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein;
Spoken Languages - Fluent in Portuguese and English.

Ebrahim F. Jawad
Regional Director - Middle East

Managing Director of Al-Nabaa Commercial Services (GCS Bahrain);
15+ years sales management experience and 13+ years experience in the collection industry;
Director of HumanArt a Human Resources Development establihsed in 2004;
Director and partner in Infinity for Investment Company a real estate developer;
Member of ACA International;
Member of number of social associations;
Spoken Languages - Fluent in Arabic, English and Persian.