Mr. Pierre-Yves Guegan is the new executive director of UniCredit Consumer Financing Bulgaria; company is a leader in the field of consumer financing in Bulgaria. Mr. Guegan has taken over the management from Mr.Niccolo Ubertalli, who after a successful term in Bulgaria became the Chief of Staff of Mr. Alessandro Profumo, the CEO of UniCredit Group. Mr. Guegan was officially presented today by the Chairman of the MB and CEO of UniCredit Bulbank Mr. Levon Hampartzumyan and Mr Andrea Cassini, COO and Deputy Chairman of the MB of the bank.

“UniCredit Consumer Financing Bulgaria is perfectly positioned among the top three on the market of consumer financing in Bulgaria. As a part of one of the largest European financial groups, we are able to support the Bulgarian households during the crisis.” said Mr. Guegan.

With assets of 70 million and over 300 employees, UniCredit Consumer Financing is among the top three of the non-banking financial institutions in Bulgaria, providing consumer financing through a network of over 2000 dealers. The major retail chains in the country like Technopolis, Tehnomarket, Metro, Praktiker, Baumax, etc. are among them. The company founded in 2006, has over 160,000 customers and provided funding to the amount of 125 million leva until now.

UniCredit Bulbank is the main partner of UniCredit Consumer Financing in the country. By agreement between the two companies all consumer loans in BGN are provided by UniCredit Consumer Financing trough the branch network of the bank or UCF and its partners.” The advantages of this model are that it allows up to improve significantly the quality of service to our customers by reducing the time between submission of documents for credit approval and credit utilization, reduce bureaucracy and paperwork, improve credit risk management and cost of borrowed resources”, said Andrea Cassini.

Initiatives in support of loyal customers

In 2009, UniCredit Consumer Financing has developed several initiatives to support clients and their families during the crisis. A major focus of these programs is loyal customers who can receive a loan of 500 to 20 000 leva. Application, approval and use of the loan could be within just one day. Another initiative is the company’s program TOGETHER 2009. “In this program we are committed to actively seek contact with our clients to alleviate any financial difficulties; we restructure the loan so to reduce the monthly installment for example”, said Mr. Guegan. Latest Loyalty Program 2009 is for business customers and partners, who receive special loyalty card, allowing them preferential terms, valid for two years. It allows funding of a loan or POS loan from 150 to 50 000 leva.

Professional CV of Pierre–Yves Guegan

Mr. Pierre-Yves Guegan is the executive director of UniCredit Consumer Financing Bulgaria; company is a leader in the field of consumer credit in Bulgaria. He has 14 years professional experience, of which 9 years in international the consumer environment. He was working in the field of operations, risk, collection, call center and B to B sales launch, re-organization & management of new business lines in different countries.

Mr. Guegan joined UniCredit Household Financing –Italy, 1 year ago, in the team managing activity in the Central and East Europe. He was working on a project "Household Financing Russia" and on a project to improve the operational efficiency of UniCredit Consumer Financing in Germany.

His management experience started at Cetelem Bank in France, where from 1994 to 2000 he was a branch manager. Then he successively held various management positions at Cetelem Bank, part of BNP Paribas Group in Taiwan, Poland and Russia. Since he started his international career and until he joined UniCredit, Mr. Guegan has been a board member and operation director of Cetelem Bank in Taiwan, Poland and Russia .

Mr. Guegan had a master in economics in 1992 at the Rennes University, France. He has a specific training course in project management. He speaks fluent English and has knowledge in German, Russian and Mandarin. He is 41.