Leasing Life’s monthly summary of the key career moves in the leasing and finance industry.
PWC head of asset finance to depart
PwC’s head of asset finance is to depart the company after 11 years. Paul Nash will join car finance provider Creditplus as a 50% shareholder. Prior to joining PwC in 2007, Nash worked for Arthur Andersen and Deloitte from 1996. Following graduation from Loughborough University in 1984, Nash worked at then-named PriceWaterhouse for a first 11-year stint. In his career as a tax and leasing specialist, Nash worked on projects such as the privatisation of British Rail and the expansion of GE Capital across asset classes.
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Further specialisms adopted by Nash over his career include areas as varied as aircraft leasing and SME finance. Creditplus is an online-based car-supply company, offering delivery to work and home addresses for consumers. In 2004, Creditplus was the first company in the UK to sell a used car online to a customer that had not physically seen the car. Nash left his position at PwC in December, and will take up his position at Creditplus from 2019.
Arval appoints Alain Van Groenendael as chair and CEO
Alain Van Groenendael has been appointed chair and chief executive officer of Arval, while Miguel Cabaca remains in charge of UK operations as managing director. Van Groenendael has 30 years of international experience, with a large part of his career at Citibank in a wide variety of roles and locations, culminating as chief executive of consumer bank, Western Europe and a member of the Citigroup management committee.
He has also held the posts of chair of the loans and financial services division at the PPR Group, and chair and chief executive at Finaref. From November 2017 to June 2018, he was chair of Opel Vauxhall Finance. His appointment as chair and chief executive of Arval took effect on 1 January 2019.
Alphabet UK appoints head of operational services
Alphabet UK, the business mobility provider and fleet leasing subsidiary of BMW, has appointed a head of operational services. Clive Buhagiar has been with Alphabet since 2011, initially joining as head of public sector following the acquisition of ING Car Lease by the company.
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By GlobalDataIn 2014 Buhagiar moved to take up the role of head of commercial performance, leading the team responsible for developing and driving Alphabet’s strategic commercial and customer initiatives in the UK. Prior to joining Alphabet from ING Car Lease, Buhagiar was a senior relationship manager at Lombard from 2002 until 2007. Since 2017 he has also been a Certified Leasing Professional, as awarded by the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
SGEF announces major changes to leadership as Turner departs
Société Générale Equipment Finance (SGEF) has made a raft of planned senior management changes in its business following changes at the top. SGEF said Giles Turner, managing director for the UK and head of Western Europe, will be leaving at the end of January 2019.
After more than 20 years’ service dedicated to helping SGEF grow into a major force in the UK and Europe, the lessor said Turner was going to pursue some long-postponed personal objectives.
John Rees, SGEF’s chief commercial officer, will add the leadership of Western Europe to his remit. Florence Roussel-Pollet has been appointed as deputy chief commercial officer to strengthen the international commercial management team. Current UK directors David Yates-Mercer and Dominic Hughes will take on joint responsibility for leading SGEF UK as cochief executives.
Co-operative bank appoints SME managing director
The Co-operative Bank has created the role of managing director – SME banking, and appointed a former CYBG chief to fill it. Donald Kerr will take up the position as part of the business’s bid to grow its presence in the business banking market. Kerr will join in early 2019 and report to chief executive Andrew Bester: the appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
Kerr joins from CYBG, where, as head of SME Banking since August 2016, he led on growing the group’s SME unit, and worked on its digital products, including developing CYBG’s business case for the forthcoming Capability and Innovation Fund initiative. He previously held managing director roles at Lloyds Banking Group in commercial finance and SME banking.
FAF moves office, appoints managing director
First Asset Finance (FAF) has created a managing director role for Patrick Sherrington to lead its asset finance business, with effect from 1 January 2019. Sherrington said: “I am very pleased to have been given this exciting opportunity to lead the group in its new format.
“Having been awarded Asset Finance Intermediary for 2018 by Leasing Life, the business moves into the new year with much confidence that we can build upon the excellent relationships that have been developed over the past few years.” Simon Jones moves to chair of the group with immediate effect, and director Martin Vodden will take on special responsibility for technical and operational issues
