Celebrating excellence: Leadership Awards 2026 honoured leaders revealed 

Last night, at The Leadership Summer Dinner, we recognised the outstanding individuals across the industry for the role they play, the impact they make and the leadership they show in their own field. Guests enjoyed an unusually warm summer evening as they were welcomed onto the lawn by violins and a drinks reception hosted by TransUnion UK. 

The Leadership Awards, brought to you by Credit Strategy and headline sponsor C&R Software, considered 54 senior individuals over 13 categories, all focused on recognising the honoured leaders across Car Finance, Consumer Finance, Mortgages, Service Providers, Creditors, Risk, Data, Collections, Fraud Prevention, Marketing, Compliance and Operations.  Rather than building towards a traditional "winner reveal", this evening was dedicated to recognising leadership in all its forms and celebrating the individuals who are helping to shape the future of our sector. 

The Leadership Recognition Index showcases all leaders distinguished through The Leadership Awards programme for their contribution to the industry, their professional achievements and the important role they play in raising standards and driving progress across the sector. At the event, all members of the index were awarded with recognition certificates to demonstrate this high level of impact they have individually achieved, however the judges have decided that 13 leaders deserved an elevated status and awarded them as Honoured Leaders.

Among last nights honoured leaders were Mark Porter from Capital on Tap, recognised as an Outstanding Leader in Collections - Creditor, Claire Smith from Oakbrook, recognised as an Outstanding Leader in Marketing, and Karl Werner from Advantage Finance, recognised as Business Leader of the Year - Car Finance. In addition to Karl’s recognition, Advantage Finance had a very successful night coming away with a total of three honoured leaders.

Guests were guided through the evening by Matthew Jarvis, former Premier League footballer, England international, and now voice in sports media and leadership, who kept the audience entertained as our honoured leaders were revealed and their achievements recognised. The celebrations continued long after the final award had been presented, with attendees taking the opportunity to reconnect with peers, build new relationships and reflect on the successes of the past year... all whilst enjoying a large screen showing of the World Cup match between England and Ghana! 

A special thank you must also go to the independent judging panel, whose expertise and dedication were instrumental in selecting this year’s honoured leaders. Faced with an exceptionally competitive field, the judges once again highlighted the impressive quality of work being delivered across the industry and the growing number that are raising the bar in their respective fields. 

The evening also proudly supported Shooting Stars Children’s Hospice, this year’s chosen charity partner. Through the generosity of guests, sponsors and supporters, valuable contributions were raised to help further their important work, demonstrating the industry’s commitment not only to business success but also to creating a positive impact beyond the workplace. 

As another successful awards programme draws to a close, The Leadership Awards continue to provide an important platform for recognising excellence, sharing best practice and celebrating the people driving the industry forward. From the amazing entrants this year Credit Strategy produced the Leadership in Credit & Financial Services Intelligence Report, a culmination of all the hard work and innovation, analysed and presented to help you gain the insights to help your organisations develop. 

To register access to the full report once launched, click here.

Congratulations once again to all those recognised in this year’s awards, and a big thank you to our fantastic judges and all those that joined us. 

To see the recognition index and honoured leaders, click here.