Resplendent in gowns and freshly-pressed
tuxedos, the European leasing community gathered this month to
celebrate a strong year and reinforce the ties of a close-knit
industry.
After the eventful Leasing Life European
Conference, the Arabella Sheraton in Munich was transformed for the
Leasing Life Annual Awards dinner, where the year’s best performers
were recognised and applauded by peers.
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The first to be recognised during the
ceremony, hosted by Andrew Denton, chief operating officer of
exclusive awards sponsor CHP Consulting, and IAA-Advisory’s Derek
Soper, was IBM Global Financing, named Captive Finance Provider of
the Year.
Introducing the winner, Denton said the judges
had awarded IBM for “creating significant business growth for its
parent by providing clients with a full service package which was
responsive to the demands of their businesses.”
UniCredit Leasing CEO Massimiliano Moi
accepted the SME Champion of the Year award on behalf of his
company after giving a presentation earlier in the day, while
Jonathan Andrew of Siemens Financial Services proudly accepted the
title of Public Sector Lessor of the Year.
Innovation was a central theme during the
day’s conference, making Georgios Kolovos of GE Capital all the
more proud to walk away with the Innovator of the Year award.
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By GlobalDataDe Lage Landen scooped the increasingly
coveted Green Lessor of the Year award for the second year running,
while Volkswagen Financial Services picked up German Lessor of the
Year in recognition of their contribution to their host nation’s
economy.
For the first time in the history of the
Leasing Life awards a tie was declared with Norton Rose and DLA
Piper sharing the applause for the Asset Finance Legal Provider of
the Year.
Denton said: “Both firms are globally
recognised, with expansive attitudes, a formidable breadth of
expertise to draw from, and a solid track record in advising
providers of leasing and asset finance.”
Newly appointed Societe Generale Equipment
Finance chief executive Marie-Christine Ducholet made a welcome
debut in her new role, accepting the Vendor Finance Provider of the
Year award for her company’s determination to grow its vendor
business through creative sales strategies.
Ducholet’s leasing group was unable to retain
the European Lessor of the Year crown, however, which this year
went to BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions. Denton said the choice for
the judges had been tough, but that BNP Paribas’ leasing division
was recognised as having “strengthened the industry as a whole
through expansion into new markets, through continual signing of
new business, through forging new vendor agreements across diverse
sectors and through perpetual innovation in its operations and
offerings.”
The evening was wrapped up with warm praise
for John Bennett, managing director of Hitachi Capital, who was
presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Recapping an
illustrious career, Denton described Bennett as “a man universally
recognised for his leadership experience, his involvement in
shaping industry policy and his genuine warmth of character.”
Bennett accepted the honour with characteristic wit and
humility.
For more information on the Leasing Life European
Conference and Awards visit the
events page.
