Meet Ron Wells, CCE.(member PROFILE)(Certified Credit Executive)

Among the many hats Ron Wells currently wears, the one of webmaster is likely the most unique. After all, not many business professionals with Wells' longevity, depth of experience and related accomplishments--he is the first internationally-based credit manager to earn NACM's Certified Credit Executive (CCE) designation--have also created a web-based presence that identifies a myriad of international credit management resources for their peers around the world.

Under the auspices of BarrettWells Credit Research (www.barrettwells.co.uk and www.barrettwells.com), Wells has gathered materials that explore credit management, payment security instruments, credit scoring and other related topics. His sites also provide a detailed listing of online tools and resources concerning business credit issues, as well as information about the Global Management Credit Group (GCMG), a "virtual organization ... dedicated to liberating the power of credit."

More Than Three Decades of Experience

With an understanding of credit and finance functions honed by more than 38 years of experience, Wells currently serves as the vice president of credit for RBS Sempra Energy Europe Limited. He leads a team that supports "commodity traders and business originators mainly operating in the natural gas and liquefied natural gas markets; power (electricity) markets; and coal, emissions, biomass and freight forward agreements markets." Wells explained, "As well as dealing with suppliers, buyers and project developers in Western Europe, we are dealing with many in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, [South Asia] and Africa. The main challenge is to understand each counterparty (there are more than 500 and the list is growing) well enough to make quick decisions relating to transactions presented for consideration, and to create positive solution-based responses [for the] traders."

Prior to joining RBS Sempra Energy in September 2007, Wells spent 16 years with Chevron Corporation, the last several as credit manager for the company's global supply and trading business unit in London. Wells also worked in various capacities within the commercial banking industry where he had "the opportunity to develop business through calling on potential customers, understanding their businesses and needs, and offering solutions." It was, he added, "a good fit with my previous experience and proved to be very rewarding"--not to mention a significant step toward his future roles in credit and finance.

The Evolving Business Credit Model

From his present vantage point in the energy commodities sector, Wells anticipates changes within the business credit model. He shared, "In the trading company context, credit management has always encompassed assessing and managing performance risk; however, this responsibility is now reaching beyond this narrow business range, in view of the high prices and high price volatility of commodities. Virtually every business is impacted by these high and volatile prices, and as a result, many are putting in place forward/future purchase or sales agreements--be they for the products they produce, or for fuel (gas or electricity) or steel, or for services such as the cost of freight."