Emmanuel Portier, ICBA Executive Chairman

Mr. Emmanuel Portier is Partner and International Director with ICBA France, known locally as Jean Busnot SA, proudly the number two trade credit broker in the French market.  He is a founding member of the ICBA.

Mr. Portier has an MBA from the University of Chicago and teaches Credit Risk and Financing at Dauphine University in Paris. He joined ICBA France after six years as a Senior Risk Underwriter at Euler Hermes Sfac, Paris.

Between time spent in the office, with his family and teaching Emmanuel writes novels and scenarios on various topics.  He is co-founder of the Association de Recherches Mimétiques which aims to promote and expand the works of anthropologist René Girard.

Richard Pickers, ICBA Vice Chairman

Mr. Richard Pickers is the Managing Director of ICBA Spain/Portugal, known locally as ICBA Iberica. His career in credit insurance began in 1982 with Crédito y Caución. 

Building on his nine years of experience Mr. Pickers left to establish his own company, formerly known as Pilau Pickers and now ICBA Iberica.  It has grown to become one of the most prestigious credit insurance specialist brokers of the Iberia.

His thorough knowledge of the domestic and international market as well as the creation of a strong back-office with expertise in the field allows Richard to fulfill his goal of being able to offer the highest added value to his clients; providing support and protection from losses as they grow their business.

Mr. Pickers was a founding member and secretary of APROMESEC.  Outside of the office Richard indulges his passion and talent for photography.

Luc Gillijns, ICBA Treasurer

Mr. Luc Gillijns is Managing Director and co-owner of ICBA Belgium known locally as Trade Insure NV.  He is a founding member of the ICBA .

Mr. Gillijns began his career with the Office National du Ducroire, the Belgian state owned insurer for commercial and political risk. He left in 1990 to establish Trade Insure NV.  His expertise in the field, reliable service and strong business relationships with clients has made Trade Insure NV the number one credit insurance broker in Belgium.

René van der Voort, Member of ICBA Board of Management

Mr. René van der Voort is Director and founding member of ICBA The Netherlands known locally as Finance & Insurance.

Graduating with an Economics degree from the University of Amsterdam in 1989, Mr. van der Voort began his career in credit and political risk insurance with NCM, now Atradius.  He moved to Mees & Zoonen Assurantiën, now Marsh, in 1992 as a consultant in credit management and insurance. While there he established the branch office in Utrecht in 1996.

In 1997 René joined with Wouter de Jonge and Adriaan Bos Eyssen to form Finance & Insurance a specialized broker in Credit Insurance.

Maria Mercedes Plant, Member of ICBA Board of Management

Ms. Mercedes Plant is a Partner and Chairman of the Board of Directors for ICBA USA/Brazil/China, known locally as International Risk Consultants (IRC)

Joining ICBA USA in 1996 Ms. Plant joined IRC bringing with her 20 years of experience in international banking.  During her 16 tenure with IRC she has always appreciated the value and importance of credit and political risk insurance as a means to assist companies reach their sales goals while mitigating the inherent risk of international trade.

Peter Boucher, Member of ICBA Board of Management

Mr. Peter Boucher is the Managing Director of ICBA Ireland, known locally as The Credit Insurance Management Company Limited (CIMCO).

In 1996 Mr. Boucher joined CIMCO after beginning his career in the London market with Jardine Lloyd Thompson followed by 6 years with Marsh.

He is a founding member of the Fingal Dublin Corporate Responsibility Network Forum, as well as a Board Member of the Asia Trade Forum and the Irish Export Association.