"Risk Solutions combines Standard & Poor's longstanding analytical skills and credit expertise with state-of-the-art tools, extensive data, and services that flexibly meet the unique credit risk needs of institutions around the globe," said Jerry Arcy, head of Standard & Poor's Risk Solutions. "Stuart's industry background will add an important component to the services we render to clients."

In his new position, Shipperlee will join the London-based team offering integrated credit risk solutions for European clients reporting to Gary Kearns, Global Leader for Credit Risk Services.

"I joined Standard & Poor's Risk Solutions because credit risk issues are fast becoming the most pressing concern for financial sector entities," said Shipperlee. "It's not simply a case of Basel II compliance for banks via internal ratings systems - it's about a fundamental re-focus on shareholder value across a wide variety of financial institutions. The demand for accurate risk measurement and adjustment is causing insurers, mortgage lenders, and large corporates, in addition to banks, to look at their credit risks on a portfolio-wide level, rather than simply exposure-by-exposure. Also, the burgeoning use of new credit risk instruments - such as credit derivatives and
CLOs - demands a new approach to risk assessment for investors in these markets."

Engaging risk has been a focus throughout Shipperlee's 20-year career, making him well-placed to understand how the present demand for credit risk services has evolved. He was previously managing director of European operations for AM Best, the U.S.-based insurance ratings agency, which followed an earlier 10-year period at Standard & Poor's. Shipperlee holds a BSc in Biochemistry at London University and an MBA from City University.

"I returned to Standard & Poor's, joining the Risk Solutions team, on account of it being superbly placed to meet the market need for robust, accountable, and readily applicable credit risk solutions," says Shipperlee. "This means not only leveraging our extensive historical data resources to provide quantitative tools, but also drawing on the company's profound credit expertise to offer clients the more qualitative services that complement these tools. It's an exciting time to join the organization and I'm looking forward to helping our clients enhance their internal risk management processes. "