A trade group, a fintech and a trio of equipment financiers reported key leadership changes in November.
American Truck Dealers
Trade group American Truck Dealers, a division of the National Automobile Dealers Association, appointed Jacqueline W. Gelb as president effective Dec. 9, according to a Nov. 18 release. She will succeed Laura Perrotta.
Gelb has 13 years of experience in the commercial trucking industry, including stints as vice president of energy and environmental affairs at the American Trucking Associations and vice president of government relations at manufacturer Navistar.
SLR Equipment Finance
Wilton, Conn.-based SLR Equipment Finance named Shila Ray as chief financial officer, effective immediately, according to a Nov. 6 company release. He replaces Paul Gentile, who had been CFO since 2020.
Ray will help oversee financing and investment decisions while communicating with stakeholders. He previously held leadership roles at American International Group, GE Capital and Encina Equipment Finance.
VitalEdge Technologies
Cary, N.C.-based VitalEdge Technologies, a software provider for equipment dealers and distributors, named Vikram Savkar as its new chief executive, effective Nov. 11, according to a Nov. 13 release. His predecessor was Jeffrey Hart.
Most recently, Savkar was executive vice president and general manager of Compliance Solutions, a unit of Wolters Kluwer focused on software for financial and corporate compliance. He also held other leadership positions with professional information, software solutions and services company Wolters Kluwer.
North Mill Equipment Finance
Norwalk, Conn.-based North Mill Equipment Finance hired Lee Bergeron as senior vice president of its new Structured Products division, according to a Nov. 15 release.
Bergeron will spearhead development of lease products for vendors, dealers and manufacturers. Paul Cheslock will join Bergeron as vice president of Structured Products after being the vice president of Customer Relations since 2018.
Bergeron’s previous roles include director of capital markets at Delta Financial Group, president of Wheeler Financial from Pitney Bowes and president of MailFinance’s leasing division.
Hancock Whitney
Gulfport, Miss.-based lender Hancock Whitney appointed Bill Bartz as senior vice president of the bank’s equipment finance division effective immediately, according to a company release.
Bartz will help the company meet “current growth-trend demands” in the Gulf Coast region as it provides equipment financing and leasing to “middle-market” and corporate clients. He previously held leadership positions at Cisco Capital, Macquarie Equipment Finance and GE Capital.
The third annual Equipment Finance Connect at the JW Marriott Nashville in Nashville, Tenn., on May 14-15, 2025, is the only event that brings together equipment dealers and lenders to share insights, attend discussions on crucial industry topics and network with peers. Learn more about the event and register here.
