ME Group appoints Rob Cottingham as CCO

Experienced fintech credit professional Rob Cottingham, is to join ME Group’s ME Funding division as chief credit officer (CCO).

The role reports to Bruce Walker, who recently joined the business as executive chairman.

ME Group CEO Rob Cooper said Cottingham’s appointment marks the next stage in the Group’s long-term strategy to become the platform of choice for UK consumer litigation funding.

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Cottingham will take responsibility for credit risk and will play a crucial role in the Credit Committee that makes decisions on how ME Funding allocates the litigation funding it manages to ensure it is funding the right types of legal cases and law firms.

Cooper said: “Rob has a stellar CV in financial services and fintech, and adds considerably to the strength of our senior team given his substantial experience in the consumer litigation funding space.

“We are delighted to have secured his services having competed against major financial services institutions to do so, and expect to recruit more talent into the credit team as the funding business gathers pace.

“International investors are interested in talking to us about opportunities in the UK litigation finance market.

“The opportunity for them is largely uncorrelated to normal economic cycles, and using our LegalTech we are able to not only reduce risk in the credit decision, but also give a more consistent and accurate decision on realisation value and duration of the underlying litigation asset.”