Richard Franks
About Richard Franks
Richard Franks serves as the Head of Lightbox at Credit Karma, a position he has held since 2019. With a strong background in credit analysis and risk management, he has worked at various financial institutions including Capital One and Commonwealth Bank.
Work at Credit Karma
Richard Franks has served as the Head of Lightbox at Credit Karma since 2019. In this role, he oversees initiatives that leverage data and analytics to enhance customer experiences. His focus is on combining iterative delivery methods with quantitative expertise to drive business success. Franks emphasizes the importance of motivating cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, design, marketing, and analytics, around a shared vision.
Previous Experience in Financial Services
Before joining Credit Karma, Richard Franks held several positions at Capital One. He served as the Director of Credit Card Credit Analysis & Forecasting from 2011 to 2013 and was the Senior Director, Head of Small Business Credit Analytics from 2013 to 2015. He also worked as a Senior Manager in Mortgage Credit Risk Management and as a Senior Statistician at Capital One. Additionally, he was the Chief Credit Officer at Amount from 2018 to 2019 and the Head of Credit Card Risk & Unsecured Underwriting at Commonwealth Bank from 2015 to 2016.
Education and Expertise
Richard Franks earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) with honors from The Wharton School, studying from 2012 to 2014. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering, with honors, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he studied from 2000 to 2004. His educational background supports his expertise in quantitative analysis and data science, which he applies in his professional roles.
Leadership Philosophy
Richard Franks believes in the importance of recruiting, developing, and empowering passionate experts to lead successful teams. He focuses on creating a collaborative environment where team members are motivated to work towards common goals. His leadership style combines a customer-back business strategy with a backward-working approach to anticipate future trends and align business strategies accordingly.
Strategic Approach to Business
Franks has developed a customer-back business strategy that emphasizes strong unit economics. He combines this with a focus on iterative delivery methods to ensure that business strategies are aligned with market trends. His approach involves utilizing deep quantitative and data science expertise to inform decision-making and drive business success.