Enterprise Fraud Leadership, Part 1: From Fraud Fighter to Strategic Leader

Leading fraud at enterprise scale is different. The stakes are bigger, the incentives are messier, and the job isn’t just to stop bad actors, it’s to build resilient systems and empowered teams.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Fraud Forward host Hailey Windham sits down with Ted Josephson, VP of Bank Fraud and Credit Strategy at Synchrony Financial, to unpack what it takes to evolve from operator to enterprise risk leader. Ted shares his origin story, the moments that shaped his philosophy on risk, and the leadership lessons he learned moving from the weeds to strategy.

Hailey and Ted dig into where fraud and credit truly intersect, why the industry still can’t agree on definitions, and how incentives across credit, marketing, and acquisition create constant tension for fraud programs. They also cover the reality of enterprise scale: the pressure to move faster than governance allows, the “go nuclear” moments leaders dread, and why credibility is built through culture, not control.

The takeaway is clear: enterprise fraud leadership isn’t only about tactics. It’s transformation, from investigation to strategy, from individual performance to team elevation, and from “friction” to protection.

Guest lineup:

• Ted Josephson: VP of Bank Fraud and Credit Strategy at Synchrony Financial
• Hailey Windham: Host of Fraud Forward and Community Banking Lead at Sardine