Author: Sebastian Storm Pallesen

By Daniel Bremann, CTO, Collectia Group

2026 will not be the year AI is introduced into credit management. That has already happened.

What will become clear, however, is that the industry must start treating AI for what it has become: infrastructure. And infrastructure must be reliable, explainable and governed — not just innovative.

Right now, I see four shifts happening at the same time. None of them are really about the technology itself, but about what it demands from us if we want to use it responsibly.

For many years, AI lived in pilot projects and isolated use cases. Useful, but controllable. That is changing rapidly.

Today, AI is embedded directly into operational workflows and makes decisions with real-world consequences. In practice, this means next-best-action logic guiding customer journeys, advisors working alongside AI copilots during conversations, and communication triggers and regulatory checks being activated automatically in the background — without anyone pressing a button.

This creates efficiency. But it also means that AI-driven decisions affect real people, every day, at scale. When something goes wrong, it is no longer a failed experiment. It is a process failure.

As AI takes on a more central role, traditional compliance models are no longer sufficient.

Static documentation and periodic reviews struggle to keep up with systems that learn and evolve continuously. By 2026, expectations will be clear: continuous model monitoring, documented decision logic, fairness assessments and traceable audit trails must be in place throughout the entire credit process.

Not only because regulators will increasingly demand it — but because customers and partners already do.

Governance is sometimes described as a barrier to innovation. I see it the other way around. Governance is what makes it possible to use AI with control and trust. Without it, every new capability becomes a risk waiting to surface.

At the same time, credit management is becoming increasingly international. Companies operating across multiple EU and Nordic markets are asking for a unified setup: one partner, one contract, one reporting model. Patchworks of local solutions no longer scale.

This is where it quickly becomes clear whether technology is truly standardised or merely locally adapted. Scaling AI across borders exposes weaknesses in regulatory compliance, language handling and decision consistency.

This is something we at Collectia have been working on for years. It is more complex than it sounds, and there are no shortcuts. But now, it is starting to happen for real.

Another clear shift is where outsourcing begins.

Previously, outsourcing often started at the collection stage. Today, it is increasingly moving further upstream — into invoice processing, reminders, payment solutions and segmentation.

The main driver is not cost, but control. Companies want consistent processes, reliable data and unified reporting across markets, from invoice issuance to resolution.

This fundamentally changes what is expected from a credit management partner. Companies are no longer buying collection capacity alone — they are buying operational consistency.

For CFOs and credit managers, it ultimately comes down to very concrete questions:

Can we explain how a decision was made if someone asks — not just in theory, but in practice?

Can we scale across markets without building bespoke solutions for each country?

And can we demonstrate that our processes are fair — in a way that actually stands up to scrutiny?

By 2026, these questions will carry more weight than price or recovery rates.

Credit management is becoming an operational discipline. The players who have built for that reality will be the ones that matter going forward.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Christian Steinebach as the new Managing Director of our German office. With a remarkable career spanning over three decades, Christian brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in various industries. His leadership and vision will be instrumental in driving our growth and innovation in the German market. Below, we highlight his professional journey, strategic plans for our German operations, and a glimpse into his personal life.

Professional Credentials

Christian Steinebach joins us with more than thirty years of increasing responsibilities in the professional services industries. His extensive experience includes a successful background in general management within an international environment. Christian’s industry expertise spans telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, financial, and professional services. He has developed pronounced intercultural competence through several years of working abroad in Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.

Most recently, Christian served as the Country Manager and Member of the Group’s Executive Team at Hoist Finance, a Swedish financial services company operating in 11 countries with a focus on debt management. In this role, he was responsible for the general management of the German business, including servicing and sales, and acted as the Managing Director for the German, Austrian, and Romanian practices. His key focus areas included improving operational performance, implementing and stabilizing new standard software, digitalizing services, and starting a nearshore service.

„My extensive international experience has taught me the value of cultural diversity and the importance of adapting strategies to local markets. This approach has been a cornerstone of my management style.“

Prior to that, Christian was the Managing Director for Germany, the Netherlands, and Eastern Europe at Sitel GmbH, a US-based company in the customer care market. He was also the Senior Vice President and a member of the global board, reporting to the Group COO and EMEA CEO. Christian successfully managed the region with 14 locations in 5 countries and 6,500 employees, achieving significant milestones such as almost doubling revenue and profitability, securing new global contracts, and transforming the corporate culture to become market-oriented and innovative.

„Driving growth and fostering innovation are not just goals but necessities in today’s competitive environment. My experience at Sitel taught me that success comes from a combination of strategic vision and operational excellence.“

Strategic Vision for the German Market

Christian Steinebach envisions a dynamic future for Collectia Germany, driven by a combination of professional service and technology-enabled leadership. Recognizing the significant potential of the German market for collection management services, Christian aims to substantially grow the business to underscore its importance within the Collectia group. His strategy focuses on three key pillars: growth, integration and harmonization, and operational excellence.

„To thrive in the German market, we need to win new business and deliver clear value to our partners. This means being a major player in our key industries and continually improving our operations.“

To achieve these goals, Christian emphasizes the need to win new business and deliver clear value to business partners, becoming a major player in key industries. He has initiated a continuous improvement program, fostering a culture that embraces change as a positive force for both the company and individuals. Under his leadership, Collectia Germany will strive to be better and more efficient, ensuring that operational excellence remains at the forefront of their endeavors.

„Change is good. By embracing new ideas and technologies, we can create a positive culture that benefits both the company and its employees.“

Personal Insights

“I am results-driven—the truth is in the numbers. But success can only be achieved by the team, which is why we need clear communication and trust in each other. I believe that if we are passionate about something and work hard, we will be successful. Hard work is only possible if you love what you are doing, so I strive to create an atmosphere where people love to come to the office in Deggendorf and Hannover.„

The Board of Appeal informed on 7 December that they have overturned the Financial Supervisory Authority’s decision to withdraw the license to carry out debt collection, and Collectia is consequently upheld by the board.

This is good news, and a confirmation that the work and the measures carried out through 2023 have had an effect.

In May, NFSA wanted to withdraw the company’s license to carry out debt collection, based on the inspection carried out in the autumn of 2022. Collectia appealed the case to the board of appeals and on 7 December 2023 the conclusion was in place.

The Appeals Board ruled in favour of Collectia and we are therefore keeping the licence. The tribunal particularly highlights Collectia’s extensive change measures over the past year as a central part of the conclusion.

– It is not surprising that we are keeping the licence, because I firmly believe that the measures that have been implemented have been good and effective. At the same time, we are grateful that the tribunal assessed the company on the basis of the work that has been put in, says Christian Mysen, who was appointed as the new general manager in May of 2023.

In the past year, Collectia has made significant changes at the highest level in the organisation, changing and improving systems, as well as establishing new frameworks for risk management and internal control. The investments made in operations put the company in a very good position for growth in the Norwegian market in the coming years.

– We are now looking ahead to 2024. We have a highly competent organization in place in Norway, a solid group behind us and all the prerequisites to achieve our ambition to become a market leader in the Norwegian market as well.

The investments in infrastructure have been completed, and we are entering the new year with growth ambitions, concludes Mysen.

CEO of Collectia Group, Anders Rosenbeck, is satisfied with the decision of the appeal board and has clear ambitions for growth in the Norwegian market.

– With Christian in place as general manager in combination with heavy operating investments, we have a unique opportunity to grow in the Norwegian market. We have delivered very good results in Sweden and Denmark – now we will carry out the same growth journey in Norway.

At Collectia, we strive to operate a green workplace and contribute to a sustainable future. Through a series of initiatives, we have reduced our environmental impact in recent years. With our latest effort, we have achieved a 27% energy saving, equivalent to 18,004 kWh in just five months compared to the same period last year. This was partly achieved by installing new light sources with motion sensors. By implementing this solution, we have managed to significantly reduce energy consumption while creating a more efficient and environmentally friendly work environment.

But we don’t stop here. We have taken more steps to promote a greener workplace and drive a sustainable business model.

Reduction in Paper Usage: A Step Towards a Digital Future

Collectia has recognized the historically high paper consumption in the debt collection industry and has therefore taken steps to reduce paper-related activities. This has been done by introducing digital processes, electronic document management, and encouraging conscious paper use.

Did you know that an energy saving of 18,004 kWh is equivalent to:

These comparisons are based on approximate average values and may vary depending on the specific power consumption of appliances and electricity prices in your area.”

Sustainable Energy for our Buildings and Cars

Another effort is our investment in solar energy at the headquarters in Brøndby. The solar panel system generates sustainable energy for all buildings and contributes to an annual reduction equivalent to 12.8 tons of CO2.

We have also made it easy for our employees and guests to choose environmentally friendly transportation options. Charging stations for electric vehicles have been established in the parking lot of the headquarters. This solution promotes the transition from conventional vehicles with combustion engines to electric vehicles in the company’s car fleet in the parking lot.

Sustainable energy for our buildings and cars
Another effort is our investment in solar energy at the headquarters in Brøndby. The solar panel system generates sustainable energy for all buildings and contributes to an annual reduction equivalent to 12.8 tons of CO2.

We have also made it easy for our employees and guests to choose environmentally friendly transportation options. Charging stations for electric vehicles have been established in the parking lot of the headquarters. This solution promotes the transition from conventional vehicles with combustion engines to electric vehicles in the company’s car fleet in the parking lot.

Utilization of Food Waste and Trash: Creating a Circular Economy

Collectia has focused on waste sorting as part of its efforts to create a circular economy. With modular waste systems in all departments, we ensure that all employees actively participate in waste sorting, contributing to recycling and resource optimization.

In our cafeteria, we have implemented an innovative approach where we actively use leftovers from previous meals to create new and tasty dishes. A special tradition we have introduced is a weekly vegetarian dish and a “leftover day” every Friday, where we serve a delicious meal based on the week’s leftovers. If there is any food remaining, employees are welcome to take it home. This not only reduces waste but also promotes an awareness of the value of fully utilizing food resources.

Employee Involvement: Collective Engagement in a Greener Business

Employee involvement is crucial for Collectia’s green journey, as we recognize that our employees are our most important resource. To ensure their engagement, we have established a digital suggestion box where all employees can contribute their ideas for green initiatives. It’s important that everyone in our organization feels they are working in a progressive company with deeply rooted green values and that their work actively contributes to our common goals.

An inspiring example of employee-driven innovation is our energy-saving project, which was actually initiated based on a suggestion from an employee. Collectia is proud to have a workplace that not only has skilled employees but also passionate ones, working towards our shared vision of a more sustainable future.

We Aim to Lead the Industry

Acting responsibly towards our customers, their customers, our employees, the environment, and society at large is deeply ingrained in our organizational culture. We aim to be a driving force for change and a positive role model for other companies wanting to take steps towards a sustainable and green future. In our view, this approach adds both human and business value.

Collectia has been on an extensive growth journey both in terms of acquisitions but also organically. We have evolved and improved the business, so we find it essential to revisit our purpose. Therefore, we can finally announce our new mission, vision, and values for Collectia, which will ensure a link between our long-term plans for the future of Collectia and our short-term tasks.

The Collectia Way

Our Values

Sustainability and social responsibility are deeply rooted in Collectia’s DNA. Being headquartered in one of the world’s greenest countries, we feel obligated to take the lead in reducing emissions beyond our borders. That’s why we partnered with Xplora and United Cities, launching a worldwide project in early 2022 to turn physical activity into humanitarian work.

Why Lebanon?

A Bright Future for the Lebanese

Development of the solar plant in Bchaaleh, Lebanon.

I want to inform you that I will be stepping down as CEO of the company, effective August 1st. Anders Rosenbeck, an experienced business leader who has worked in senior roles in the financial and technology sector, has been appointed as the company’s new CEO.

Exactly 21 years ago, I joined the Collectia family and started my exciting and challenging journey with the company. I have seen how a small Danish company could grow into a pan-Nordic IT company with a focus on credit scoring and credit management services. We have grown from 50 employees in Denmark to almost 300 employees across our offices in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Germany.

I am very proud of our way of doing business. At Collectia we have a core set of values based on integrity and respect. Acting responsibly towards our customers and their debtors, our employees, the environment, and society, in general, is deeply embedded in the Collectia organization and culture. Further, we have a leading proprietary IT platform, CollectIT / C-Work, which allows us to deliver more for our customers including faster payments and higher collection rates. I will continue being a part of the Collectia Group as a board member, and I look forward to still being part of our company’s continuous growth and success.

A big thanks to all our customers across the group. I am delighted that you have chosen us as your supplier for such an important part of your business.

Welcome to Anders Rosenbeck

Anders has a Master of Civil Engineering from DTU and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from CBS. For the past 20 years, Anders has worked in the financial sector focusing on business development and technology. Most recently, Anders has been CEO of Tia Technology, servicing insurance companies in 25 countries. The company, owned by the private equity fund EQT, was sold at the end of 2020.

Anders is 52 years old and lives with his wife and the two youngest of their three children.