Gareth Hughes (Marston)

"Gareth joined KPMG’s London Financial Business Unit in 1996, principally working on the audits of Natwest and Coutts. He qualified with first time passes in 1999 before transferring to KPMG Melbourne to become in-charge of the ANZ Bank audit.

"He joined the Corporate Finance division of Old Mutual Securities on his return to the UK in 2001, where he worked on AIM flotations and private equity fundraisings. He was asked to join the Marston Board in 2002, becoming Marston Finance Director. He became Deputy Chief Executive in 2010 and Chief Executive in 2012.

"Gareth has been central to the enforcement industry’s lobbying for implementation of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 regulations. In 2008, he wrote an 80-page submission to MoJ recommending reformed fee structures that became the basis for the proposed regulations. He led the subsequent engagement with MoJ, being asked to sit on two working parties convened to consider fee reform. He persuaded the three industry associations to jointly appoint Bellenden Public Affairs, and was asked to become a founding member of the Enforcement Regulation Group. He has represented the industry at 34 separate meetings with MPs, and also with the previous Justice Minister.

"Gareth has engaged in extensive dialogue with the advice sector, including MIND, Advice UK, Lord Lucas, Money Advice Trust, Stepchange, Bailiff Advice Online and Citizens Advice. He is an individual partner of the Reform think tank, a member of the Enforcement Law Reform Group, and in October 2010 became an authorised High Court Enforcement Officer. He is also a member of both the Institute of Credit Management and the Association of Credit Professionals. Gareth has been named as one of the Top 50 most influential people in the wider credit industry for the last four years."