Meet our executive team

Ian Phillips

Director of Risk and Compliance

Ian joined StepChange in 2021, having worked in the regulated Financial Services Industry for over 25 years, across a range of regional, national, and international firms of various sizes, including 13 years in various parts of Lloyds Banking Group.

Starting out in front line, customer facing roles at branch, area and regional level, Ian gained first hand insight into the real-world challenges of translating strategy into reality for customers and colleagues. He then moved into Head Office roles in Product & Proposition, Operations and First and Second Line Risk & Compliance, including leading direct interaction with the FCA over enforcement and rectification activity, oversighting the LBG Vulnerable Consumer strategy and supporting Equifax in developing and implementing a revised risk management framework.

Since 2020, Ian has also successfully co-led the UK Finance Vulnerability Academy, driving thought leadership, and supporting over 150 strategic leaders to date, from across the financial services, utilities, communications, and other sectors, in understanding the requirements of embedding consumer vulnerability, and good consumer outcomes in general, throughout the culture, policies, and relevant customer journeys of their organisations. The success of the academy has recently seen its remit broaden to include the first Regulator’s Academy, in partnership with the UK Regulators’ Network, helping Regulators develop responses to the same challenges across their markets.

Ian is also an adviser to the Board of Surviving Economic Abuse, the UK’s only charity dedicated to raising awareness of and transforming responses to economic abuse, is a Parish Councillor and is Chair of Trustees of a small charity which supports provision of educational and cultural initiatives in the local community.

Richard Britten

Chief Finance Officer

Richard joined the charity in 2018 bringing strategic, commercial and financial leadership experience gained across several commercial organisations. This experience helps to ensure that StepChange can deliver on its charitable objectives whilst also being commercially focused and efficient in the provision of its services.

He is also responsible for the oversight of the charity’s regulatory finance function ensuring that client money is handled and protected in accordance with the FCA’s guidance.

Richard brings a wealth of experience gained in senior financial roles within regulated financial services at Mitchell Farrar Group and Provident Financial plc, as well as broad commercial finance roles gained internationally with Enterprise Oil plc. Richard is a Chartered Accountant having qualified at EY in London.

Richard Lane

Chief Client Officer

Richard joined the charity in 2018 as Director of External Affairs, and took up the role of Chief Client Officer in 2024. He leads the charity's External Affairs department, which covers our policy, campaigning, communications and digital functions, as well as the development of all of StepChange's products and services to meet evolving client need. He is passionate about putting the voice of our clients at the heart of everything we do and ensuring good client outcomes for those access StepChange's services.

Between 2020 - 2024 Richard also led StepChange’s two operating subsidiaries – Consumer Credit Counselling Services (Equity Release) Ltd and Consumer Credit Counselling Services (Voluntary Arrangements) Ltd - that offer mortgage and equity release advice and products and insolvency solutions for those struggling with their finances.

Richard has worked across the charity sector in a number of roles, notably leading the communications and campaigns teams at the national disability charity, Scope, and working on campaigns and public affairs at the LGBT charity Stonewall.

Richard lives in London and is a keen cyclist, ParkRunner and, in his spare time, is a Trustee of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.

Martin Clift

Chief Operating Officer

Martin joined the charity in September 2024 as Chief Operating Officer. He leads the charity's Client facing Operations department, which covers all our Debt Advice and Client Support services and is responsible for the charity's physical estate and facilities, accountable for health & safety and sustainability. In addition, he is the executive sponsor for our Digital Transformation and Back Office Optimisation programmes. He also now leads StepChange’s two operating subsidiaries – StepChange Financial Solutions and StepChange Voluntary Arrangements - that offer mortgage and equity release advice and products and insolvency solutions for those struggling with their finances. He is passionate about ensuring good client outcomes enabled by Digital First services backed by trusted experts, for all who access  StepChange's services.

Previously Martin has worked in Financial Services for many years, across a number of roles, most notably leading Mortgage Operations for a large Retail Bank, where he led a number of significant Transformation programmes, positively impacting both customer experience and organisational efficiency.

Martin lives in Nottingham and is a keen walker, cyclist and follower of Sheffield United and England cricket.

Charlotte Chambers

Chief Technology & Information Officer

Charlotte joined the charity in 2023 as Chief Digital Officer, accountable for all of Digital & Change Services across the group.

The work Digital & Change Services deliver is key to underpinning the longer term strategic outcomes of StepChange as well as the current services and products we supply to clients and creditors. Charlotte is accountable for delivering the Digital Strategy and longer term digital transformation for the charity as well as the IT operations and support services.

Charlotte has over 25 years’ experience working in Technology and change roles, working across multiple sectors, including 10+ years in the retail sector. Charlotte is passionate about supporting future talent through coaching and mentoring and led the Women in Technology programme at Asda.

Charlotte still lives in the North East with her family, and has recently volunteered to be a mentor for The Girls Network, whose mission is to inspire and empower girls from the least advantaged communities.

Gail Arkle

Chief Growth Officer

Gail joined the charity in 2019 as Head of Insight, Strategy and Business Development, and was promoted to the Executive Team in 2021 as Director of Client Experience. Following a restructure of the executive team in 2023, Gail assumed the role of Chief Growth Officer in January 2024. leading the Growth & Innovation directorate.

In her role of Chief Growth Officer, Gail has accountability for insight and strategy, strategic partnerships, business development, bid management, commercial and innovation teams in delivering the long term growth aspirations of the charity. The work of the Growth & Innovation directorate is key to securing debt advice referrals from our 1,500 strong partnership network and associated funding to cover the costs of all service provision. In line with the charity’s five year strategy. The directorate is also responsible for the evolution of our services and solutions to meet changing client needs and to deliver long term good client outcomes.

With over 25 years’ experience, including 18 years working in leadership roles in the third sector and public services outsourcing sector, she has successfully led Marketing and Commercial teams in the delivery of strategies to future proof organisations, realising corporate objectives and also delivering against annual key performance metrics. Most notably, in leadership roles securing high value funding for the delivery of essential social and societal services.

Gail is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (‘FCIM’), and in her spare time oversees the financial performance of ArkleBoyce Architects Ltd, ensuring the ongoing growth of the practice.

Vikki Brownridge

Chief Executive

Prior to Vikki’s role of CEO which she took up in May 2023, she lead the charity’s operational teams who provide debt advice and ongoing solution service provision for our clients across a number of sites and all jurisdictions in the UK.

She has worked at the charity since 2005 and has held several senior leadership positions including Head of Debt Advice where she was instrumental in the launch of the sectors first online debt advice service, and Director of Client Experience where she was responsible for the charity’s strategic relationships and funding. Over the years Vikki has also played an active role in shaping and defining the sector working alongside the Money and Pensions Service and other debt advice charities.

Vikki is also a Trustee of Frank Parkinson Yorkshire Trust, a local Leeds based charity that provides almshouses for residents over the age of 65, and a board member at the Money Advice Liaison Group.

Earlier in her career Vikki held leadership positions within outsourced providers and financial services organisations.

Alex Pitcher

Chief Risk Officer

Alex joined the charity in 2023 as Chief Risk Officer and is responsible for ensuring that threats to achieving StepChange's strategy are well-managed and that we deliver good outcomes for all of the clients that we serve. He leads our risk management, governance, legal, data protection and regulatory compliance functions.

Prior to joining StepChange, Alex built his risk, compliance and audit experience in various roles at TransUnion, Yorkshire Building Society, PwC and NatWest. He is also chair of trustees at C3 Life Church and a trustee of Oasis Community Housing.