Maxim Commercial Capital names Elam COO and other industry staffing moves

Multiple equipment lenders, an insurance provider and a major player in the autonomous trucking industry made key leadership decisions over the past month. 

Elam joins Maxim executive team 

Los Angeles-based equipment financier Maxim Commercial Capital appointed Lyndon Elam chief operating officer effective immediately, according to a Sept. 15 company release. Elam will lead the company’s origination and portfolio management teams while overseeing operation strategy.  

Elam has more than 20 years of experience in specialty finance sectors. He was most recently chief operating officer of subprime auto lender United Auto Credit, playing a key role in the company’s integration with online marketplace Vroom after being acquired. 

North Mill taps Siler as CTO 

Independent lender North Mill Equipment Finance named Steve Siler chief technology officer effective immediately, according to a Sept. 8 release from the Norwalk, Conn.-based company. 

With more than 20 years of technology experience across asset-backed finance, private credit and integration of mergers and acquisitions, Siler will oversee all aspects of digital and technology strategies. 

Siler has been CTO at Stonebriar Commercial Finance and head of technology at private investment firm Eldridge. 

Clarus Capital names Herr controller  

Boston-based Clarus Capital appointed Adrian Herr controller to oversee accounting and financial reporting operations effective immediately, according to a Sept. 8 company release. Herr will work alongside Chief Financial Officer Mike Eisenstein to advance strategic financial initiatives.  

Herr has more than 15 years of experience in accounting, finance and investment operations, most recently as senior vice president of finance at fintech Hometap. He has been VP of operations at wealth tech firm Envestnet and director of operations at liquid alternatives platform AlphaHedge Capital Partners.  

PlusAI forms Safety, Policy Advisory Council 

Autonomous trucking technology provider PlusAI announced the formation of its Safety and Policy Advisory Council to guide safety and regulatory strategies as it prepares for its 2027 commercial launch, according to a Sept. 23 company release.  

The council comprises transportation and logistics professionals and government officials. Leaders of the new council include: 

• Andrew Boyle, former co-president of Boyle Transportation and past chairman of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). 
• Jeff Denham, former Republican California congressman and member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. 
• Sue Lawless, former acting deputy administrator and chief safety officer at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• Spencer R. Moore, former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Driver Services and past chairman of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
• Dan Van Alstine, former president and COO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems and past ATA chair.  

RVI Group promotes Fan to COO 

RVI Group, a financial services and insurance provider for commercial equipment, with a specialty in residual value insurance, promoted Wei Fan to COO from executive vice president effective immediately, according to a Sept. 2 release by the Stamford, Conn.-based company. 

Fan joined the company in 2007, having previously led quantitative analysis, passenger vehicle and passenger vehicle residual value businesses.  

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