Transform at Scale. Lead with Impact.

I help institutions navigate complex transformation. My expertise spans M&A integration, mortgage infrastructure modernisation, payments modernisation, and regulatory excellence. I deliver measurable results that strengthen competitive advantage and drive sustainable growth.

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Sherry Crentsil
Barclays | Santander · KPMG · DHL
Education: MA Management · MSC Accounting and Finance · Certified Scrum Master · Certified Product Owner · Prince 2
15+
Years of Transformation Leadership
£2.6B+
M&A Integrations Led
50%
Cost Reduction Achieved
4
Continents (Cross-Functional Teams)

My ApproachStrategic Transformation Leader. Results-Focused Systems Builder.

For 15+ years, I've led transformations at the intersection of strategy and execution. Whether integrating £2.6B acquisitions, modernising payment platforms, or navigating complex regulatory environments, I translate ambitious vision into measurable operational reality.

I bring clarity to complexity, alignment to ambiguity, and momentum to organisations navigating transformation. My approach combines deep financial services expertise with genuine commitment to building sustainable systems and scaling operations.

I excel at translating complex technical changes into clear, executive-ready decisions and actionable policy options. I build disciplined governance frameworks, galvanise fragmented stakeholders, and reconcile competing priorities with directness and calm resolve. My leadership approach emphasises evidence-based decision making, talent development through mentorship, and building long-term institutional growth.

My Expertise

M&A Integration & Business Acquisition
I lead end-to-end M&A integration programmes, transforming complex acquisitions into seamless operations. From defining integration workstreams to establishing governance frameworks, I deliver strategic planning with meticulous execution.
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Kensington Mortgage Company Acquisition
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Led end-to-end transformation programme for £2 billion acquisition. Developed transformation framework and established governance structures. Managed complex integration workstreams across multiple geographies and business areas. Coordinated cross-functional projects with internal contributors and external parties. Delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives, significantly expanding Barclays' mortgage portfolio and optimising secured borrowing propositions.
→ Read announcement
Tesco Bank Acquisition
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Led technical and operational integration of £600m acquisition. Managed complex integration workstreams across multiple business areas, coordinating cross-functional projects with internal teams and external partners. Expanded Barclays' mortgage portfolio and strengthened competitive position.
→ Read announcement
Payments & Fintech Innovation
I drive payments modernisation and fintech innovation in complex financial environments. From pioneering Apple Pay to building award-winning digital platforms, I combine strategic vision with practical execution to deliver transformational customer experiences.
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Amazon Barclaycard - Next Generation Consumer Banking (NGCB)
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Spearheaded the NGCB programme, including the successful launch of the Amazon Barclaycard co-branded platform. Achieved a remarkable 50% reduction in per-account costs through a digital-first delivery model. This initiative was a key contribution to Barclays' strategy to reach £30 billion in total income by 2026 and supports a greater than 12% Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE) target.
→ Read announcement
Award-Winning Digital Mortgage Platform
Company: Santander UK
Achievement: Led the development and launch of Santander's award-winning online mortgage platform—the first of its kind in the UK. Leveraged AWS cloud solutions, robust API integrations, and Agile delivery frameworks to reduce application time to 30 minutes with instant decisions. Achieved 15% increase in online applications and 20% rise in total applications processed, whilst improving customer satisfaction and experience. Won "Best Online Mortgage Lender" (2022).
→ Read announcement
Apple Pay Initiative
Company: Santander UK
Achievement: Pioneered Apple Pay implementation at Santander, coordinating the payment framework across multiple channels (Cheques, Faster Payments, CHAPS, International Transactions). Optimised transaction processes and improved fraud prevention capabilities.
Payments Systems Management
Company: Santander UK
Achievement: Managed accounting and control projects for retail and corporate payment systems (Cheques, Faster Payments, CHAPS, International Transactions). Coordinated the payment framework across multiple channels, optimising transaction processes and improving fraud prevention capabilities.
Advanced Cloud Risk Platforms
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Spearheaded development of advanced cloud-based risk platforms. Led the successful migration of corporate risk models for customer product holdings to cloud-based infrastructure (data lake ingestion), improving system uptime and reporting response time by 20%, eliminating phantom exposures, and saving £500k+ in third-party costs.
Collections & Data Infrastructure Transformation
Company: Santander UK
Achievement: Coordinated the implementation of a mortgage collections and recoveries repository database on Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) with core APIs, including new front-end screens to record, track, and monitor mortgage write-offs for secured and unsecured portfolios. Achieved 25% improvement in reporting efficiency.
Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management
I navigate complex regulatory environments with precision. From LIBOR transition to automated regulatory reporting, I ensure compliance whilst maintaining operational excellence and strategic alignment with regulatory mandates.
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Global LIBOR Transition
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Instrumental in the LIBOR transition to risk-free rates, meticulously managing the overhaul of all downstream systems and contracts to ensure full compliance with global central bank mandates and safeguard market integrity. Achieved zero regulatory breaches whilst strengthening security frameworks and data integrity across trading, lending, and treasury operations.
Credit Risk Platform Migration
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Directed the migration of the Credit Risk platform from legacy ACBS mainframe systems to Finastra's Loan IQ. Modernised credit risk management, significantly reducing processing times and lowering integration costs across a multi-billion-pound lending portfolio. Strengthened security frameworks and data integrity.
Apollo Workstream - Regulatory Reporting Automation
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Transformed critical regulatory reporting from a manual process consuming 2.5+ weeks to an automated solution through the Apollo Workstream. Achieved 43% improvement in execution time, eliminated human error, and ensured timely, accurate regulatory submissions.
Operational Excellence & Systems Design
I build the operating systems and processes that enable organisations to scale. From system modernisation to governance frameworks, I establish durable structures that drive sustainable growth and institutional capability development.
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Technology and Business Transformation Leadership
Company: Barclays
Role: Technology and Business Transformation Lead
Achievement: Directed complex transformations across Asset Liability Management (ALM), Treasury, Risk, and Finance platforms. Established governance frameworks and transformation processes. Managed organisational project portfolio and provided strategic direction ensuring alignment with company objectives.
Advanced Cloud Risk Platforms
Company: Barclays
Achievement: Spearheaded development of advanced cloud-based risk platforms. Led the successful migration of corporate risk models to cloud-based infrastructure (data lake ingestion), improving system uptime and reporting response time by 20%, eliminating phantom exposures, and saving £500k+ in third-party costs.
Governance & Institutional Capability
Company: Barclays (across multiple programmes)
Achievement: Built and managed independently run workstreams whilst mentoring senior leaders. Established durable governance and oversight structures that persist beyond programme completion. Acted as visible leader of change, engaging Executive on transformation agenda.

My Offering

Permanent Executive Roles

Full-time leadership positions driving transformation and strategic initiatives across Tier-1 institutions and financial organisations.

Interim / Fractional Leadership

Temporary or part-time transformation leadership for specific programmes, transitions, or strategic initiatives requiring specialised expertise.

Advisory & Consulting

Strategic guidance and consulting engagements supporting organisations navigating complex transformation, payments modernisation, or regulatory challenges.

Let's Talk

I'm open to discussing permanent roles, interim leadership opportunities, advisory engagements, and strategic consulting. Let's explore how I can help drive transformation in your organisation.