FICO Honors Four Global Leaders in Analytics and Digital Transformation At the FICO® World 2025 conference held in Hollywood, Florida, from May 6-9, 2025, global analytics software leader FICO announced the recipients of its inaugural FICO® Decision Hero Awards. These prestigious awards acknowledge four visionaries who have harnessed advanced analytics to revolutionize financial services. The winners represent North America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). North America: Deb Strickland, Wells Fargo Deb Strickland, a veteran in credit risk management with over two decades of experience, has played a pivotal role in implementing Wells Fargo’s machine learning-driven credit decisioning strategies. Leading major initiatives to refine underwriting models and launch innovative credit products, Strickland has been instrumental in embedding advanced analytics into the bank’s operations. Her efforts have enhanced regulatory compliance, reduced operational risk, and consistently driven innovation. Prior to Wells Fargo, Strickland held leadership roles at PayPal and Washington Mutual, where she modernized risk assessment frameworks and introduced data-driven lending practices. Strickland emphasizes, "The best strategies and analytics are just aspirations on a slide until my team brings them to life. FICO’s tools help turn that vision into real results." EMEA: Andy Lawrie, Nationwide Building Society Andy Lawrie, a prominent figure in decision science, credit risk, and fintech, has spearheaded Nationwide Building Society’s transition to the FICO® Platform. This move has centralized decision-making across various product lines, significantly boosting efficiency, agility, and compliance. Lawrie’s previous roles at Aviva and Banco Santander involved developing automated risk models and AI-driven credit assessments, contributing to the modernization of decisioning systems throughout Europe. Lawrie reflects, "To make analytics work at scale, you need two things: clear strategy and cultural alignment. We designed our decisioning transformation not just for technology, but for the people using it." Asia Pacific: Chartsiri Sophonpanich, Bangkok Bank Chartsiri Sophonpanich, President of Bangkok Bank, has guided the institution’s digital transformation and regional expansion over the past three decades. By integrating FICO’s analytics solutions, Sophonpanich has optimized risk assessment, strengthened credit decisioning, and implemented AI-powered fraud detection. These advancements enable the bank and its subsidiaries to process hundreds of thousands of digital loan approvals each month, solidifying Bangkok Bank's position as a pioneering financial entity in the region. Sophonpanich underscores, "Success in analytics is not about having the best technology—it’s about having the right mindset. We’ve embedded analytics into every decision-making layer, making it a part of how we serve customers." LAC: Ulisses Okamoto, Itaú Unibanco Ulisses Okamoto, an expert in fraud risk management, has led Itaú Unibanco’s digital fraud strategy transformation. His leadership in migrating to a cloud-based fraud detection system has cut fraud losses by over USD $20 million per month and boosted fraud detection rates by 20%. Before joining Itaú, Okamoto held senior positions at Citibank, where he developed AI-powered fraud models and risk mitigation strategies. His contributions have reinforced Itaú’s standing as a leader in digital security. Okamoto states, "Fraud prevention isn’t just about risk—it’s about delivering safe, standout experiences. In today’s digital world, security shapes brand perception and business success. Ignore it, and you’ll fall behind—left out of the competition and out of the game." Industry Insider Evaluations The announcement of the FICO® Decision Hero Awards has been widely acclaimed within the technology and finance sector. Industry experts commend FICO for recognizing these leaders who have not only embraced advanced analytics but also driven significant operational improvements and customer satisfaction. These awards highlight the growing importance of data-driven decision-making in enhancing financial services and combating fraud. The selected individuals are seen as role models in their respective regions, inspiring a new generation of professionals to leverage analytics for transformative change. About FICO FICO, founded in 1956 and listed on the NYSE (FICO), is a pioneer in predictive analytics and data science, dedicated to improving operational decisions for businesses worldwide. With over 200 US and foreign patents, FICO offers solutions that enhance profitability, customer satisfaction, and growth in various industries, including financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, and retail. FICO is renowned for its FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, and now available in over 40 countries. The score improves risk management, credit access, and transparency. FICO’s technologies protect 4 billion payment cards from fraud, improve financial inclusion, and increase supply chain resiliency, serving clients in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit FICO’s website and follow their conversations on social media at X and their blog. FICO's news and media resources can be found at FICO Newsroom. FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.