Sandy Kara is the VP, Operations within the Commercial and Merchant Servicing Network, based in Manila, responsible for the US Small Business and JAPA region. Her team of over 700 colleagues deliver best in class service to our Large, Mid and Small business Clients while deepening the relationships and driving loyalty. Sandy started in 2011 leading the US Consumer Servicing Centre out of Toronto. She then moved on to oversee the Canadian Consumer Servicing Network and the Credit & Collection operations. In addition to leading these networks, her strategic leadership and operations skills were leveraged to lead transformational changes within the market, launch new products, initiatives and focus on the end to end Customer Experience. Sandy’s Brand has created strong followers and is the “go to person” as she demonstrates her passion for the Customer, Revenue, Growth and Colleague Development.

Prior to joining American Express, Sandy successfully built her career in the Outsourced Call Centre Industry by providing customized outsourced Multi channel solutions. She has launched and established new call centers, on shore and off shore supporting Sales and Service efforts within various industry verticals; telecom, insurance, energy, retail and financial.

Sandy has a B.SC. from State University of New York.

Steve is the Regional Managing Director for the Chengdu and Manila Service Centres of ANZ Banking Group Limited. In this role, he is responsible for leading both Service Centres from a strategic and operational perspective. The role is accountable for running ANZ operations which include complex banking operations, Risk, Finance and HR Shared Services, Technology Services and a large Customer Contact Centre that provide 24/7 services to 32 markets across the ANZ network.

Prior to his current assignment, he was the Managing Director of the Manila Service Centre from July 2016 to June 2020 and held the same role in the Chengdu Service Centre from Aug 2013 to July 2016. Steve joined ANZ in October 2007. Prior to ANZ, Steve was Chief Finance Officer for TRUenergy’s retail division between 2001 and 2007. Steve’s professional life has mainly been in the energy and banking sectors both in Australia and the UK which includes various roles in finance and retail at British Gas, Bank of Melbourne and Challenge Bank.

Steve is a founding member of Asia Pacific Shared Services Council in 2018 and currently holds a position in the Board of Directors of Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting with honours from Birmingham University and has completed Executive Leadership development courses at the Melbourne Business School, Duke University and M.I.T. in Boston.

Robert has been in the Philippines the last 3 years with Fonterra, a New Zealand Dairy Co-Operative. Originally based out of Auckland at Fonterra HQ, Robert has been with Fonterra the last 7 years and prior to the Philippines held a regional commercial role based out of Malaysia covering the APAC region, including Greater China. Other markets that Robert has had working experience include Australia and South Africa.

Eric joined Macquarie last June 2018 as Division Director heading up the Manila Shared Services Centre (SSC) Office and Technology, Market Operations, Business Services and Human Resources for Macquarie globally. The Manila Office is currently the 3rd largest Macquarie office in terms of staff count.

Prior to Macquarie, Eric was based in the US as the Chief Information Officer for Claims for Chubb Insurance (formerly ACE insurance) for almost four years. Before Chubb, Eric was with the American International Group (AIG) for more than 18 years, taking positions in Manila, New York/New Jersey and Japan. Born and raised in Manila, he returned to the Philippines with the opportunity in Macquarie after almost two decades of living overseas.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University.

20 plus years in the Philippines, Sarah has a true Filipina heart, yet with her UK stay calm and carry on grit still intact. Believing people are the best assets, listening skills and with customer centricity drives business. She loves creating long term relationships and knows covid is temporary!

Nick has 25 years in the Financial Services Industry, leading Operations and driving change across global organizations. He spent the first half of his career working for GE Capital, where he built leadership and Operational skills in multiple businesses across Europe and Australasia. He certified as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Lean practitioner, and in his final role at GE he integrated and led the Operational teams for the GE mortgage, direct, and loan businesses. Nick spent 7 years with Willis Towers Watson in various roles including COO for Australasia and Asia, during which time he developed the International Operating Model and Transformation program covering 72 countries. Nick joined QBE initially as the GM Operations for the AUSPAC business. After 3 years in his previous role, he is now currently the interim EGM for the Group Shared Services Centre in the Philippines – where he leads an amazing team of passionate, resilient and talented people in Manila and Cebu. Nick’s leadership purpose is ‘to bring care and integrity to lead teams in delivering meaningful change’.

Benj joined Telstra in September 2019 as the Managing Director for Telstra International Philippines and President of Telstra Foundation Philippines. He has responsibility for the overall country leadership, maintaining the brand and reputation of Telstra in the country.

Benj has twenty years of experience in General Management, Shared Services and Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability across several industries including legal, investment banking, engineering, background check services, and business process outsourcing. He has managed businesses in the Philippines, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and the US.