Carrington Dean appoints money advice expert Vida Gow as special adviser

Carrington Dean has made consumer money advice expert Vida Gow a special adviser to its board.

The Glasgow-based provider of debt advice, personal insolvency and payment distribution services said Ms Gow, who has worked for both the not-for-profit and financial services sectors, including pivotal roles with Citizens Advice Scotland during a more than 20 year association, will advise the company on compliance and other critical issues.

Her most recent position was Money Advice Manager for CAS, a role in which she was lead contributor to social policy work in relation to debt and money advice.

She has also developed and delivered specialist money advice training for Citizens and liaised with the major financial institutions to raise the standard of money advice provision in the commercial sector.

Peter Dean, Managing Director of Carrington Dean said: “I am pleased to welcome Vida on board as Special Adviser and I am confident she will make a valuable contribution to our ongoing work to safeguard consumers’ interests. Her appointment underlines our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality independent advice, solutions and service to people in need of help with debt and other financial issues.”

Carrington Dean is a leading provider of both Trust Deeds and the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS - a statutory debt management scheme established by the Scottish Government).

The company recently secured a four year agreement with the Accountant in Bankruptcy to operate as lead member of a new panel of approved DAS Payment Distributors.

Carrington was awarded the largest share of DAS Payment Distribution cases on the basis of evidence of best practice, commitment to continuous improvement and customer service standards as well as practical considerations.

The firm has undertaken a number of nationwide initiatives over more than a decade to develop greater awareness and understanding of debt issues among consumers, money advisers, charities, creditors, financial institutions and the legal sector.

Earlier this year the group also established a standalone operation in Dublin to help Irish citizens access professional help to tackle personal debt.