Asset Finance Connect

01/07/2025

01/07/2025

🌟 Celebrating Excellence at the AFC Summer Awards 2025 🌟

A huge congratulations to all the winners of the AFC Summer Awards 2025! 🎉

This event has once again showcased the best and brightest in asset finance — recognising innovation, resilience, and outstanding contributions across the industry. We're proud to celebrate your achievements and the positive impact you're making every day.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors for making this event possible:
LTi Technology Solutions, Allica Bank, NETSOL Technologies, Solifi, Shoosmiths, VIP Apps Consulting, Acquis, grenke, Verifi, Odessa, Propel Finance, Alfa, and CGI.

The AFC Summer Event remains a cornerstone of the industry calendar, bringing together professionals, partners, and pioneers to connect, reflect, and celebrate success.

Until next year — let’s keep raising the bar!

01/07/2025

🏆 AFC CEO of the Year 2025 – Congratulations Kerry Howells! 🏆

We’re delighted to congratulate Kerry Howells, CEO at Tower Leasing Ltd Leasing, on being named AFC CEO of the Year 2025, proudly sponsored by Verifi Asset Protection. Unfortunately, Kerry wasn't able to pick the award up in person but Tower Leasing celebrated on her behalf!

Kerry’s leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to both people and performance have set a remarkable example in the asset finance industry. This award is a well-deserved recognition of her impact, innovation, and excellence at the helm of Tower Leasing.

01/07/2025

🌟 AFC Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 – Honouring a Remarkable Career 🌟

We are proud to announce that the prestigious AFC Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Steve Bolton of PEAC Solutions at the Asset Finance Connect Summer Awards 2025.

This honour recognises Steve’s outstanding leadership and extensive industry contributions, and over three decades of dedicated service in the leasing and financial services sector. Universally respected as a “gentleman in our industry,” Steve has held senior roles at Lloyds, Barclays, and PEAC Solutions, and contributed significantly through board positions at the Finance & Leasing Association and Motability Operations. An active supporter of the industry, Steve is widely regarded as an “all-round good guy” whose impact and integrity have left a lasting legacy.

👏 Congratulations, Steve — a truly well-deserved recognition!

01/07/2025

🌱 Rising Star Award 2025

We're thrilled to celebrate Kevin Calkiewicz, Associate Director at Charles & Dean Finance, as the winner of the AFC Rising Star Award 2025, proudly sponsored by verifi.

Kevin’s outstanding leadership, talent development, and commercial success at Charles & Dean Finance definitely make him one to watch! 👏

01/07/2025

The AFC & AFPA Trust Award for outstanding contribution to the asset finance industry was presented to Peter McDonnell, founder and driving force behind the AFPA Trust.

As Robert Taylor, Chair of the AFPA Trust, shared: “Peter founded the Asset Finance Professionals Association Trust during one of his legendary long lunches over a decade ago. Since then, AFPA has flourished, donating an incredible £99,340 to 26 charities in 2024 alone. None of this would have been possible without the blueprint Peter created.

“But Peter’s generosity goes far beyond financial contributions. He gives freely of his time, mentoring countless individuals across the industry. Many of us owe our careers, our connections, and our confidence to Peter - often without even realising the full extent of what he's done, and never because he asked for anything in return.”

AFCAwards25

01/07/2025

🏅 Outstanding Achievement Award 2025 🏅

Sponsored by grenke, this year’s award goes to Nathan Mollett, Head of Asset Finance at United Trust Bank Limited Trust Bank, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to United Trust Bank Limited Trust Bank (UTB) and the asset finance industry.

Nathan significantly grew loan books at both Metro Bank and UTB, and built a high-performing, innovative team at UTB with market-leading products and outstanding financial results. Beyond his commercial impact, Nathan has championed industry development through mentoring, leadership roles, and fundraising efforts, raising over £65k for charity, and supporting the next generation of professionals through the Leasing Foundation’s NextGen Network and Industry Insights initiative.

01/07/2025

The People Awards at the Asset Finance Connect Summer Awards 2025 celebrate the individuals and teams driving positive change, culture, and innovation across the asset finance sector.

👏 Congratulations to this year’s outstanding winners:

💻 Excellence in Technology 2025 - Congratulations to the Asset Finance Technology Team at Simply Asset Finance for winning the Excellence in Technology Award, sponsored by VIP Apps Consulting Limited Apps Consulting, for their innovation and tech-driven transformation.

These awards celebrate the people shaping the future of our industry — through leadership, integrity, innovation, and culture.

01/07/2025

The People Awards at the Asset Finance Connect Summer Awards 2025 celebrate the individuals and teams driving positive change, culture, and innovation across the asset finance sector.

👏 Congratulations to this year’s outstanding winners:

✅ Excellence in Compliance 2025 - Well deserved recognition for Sarah Cunningham, Head of Compliance at NACFB, who wins this award sponsored by Shoosmiths for her transformative leadership and dedication to regulatory excellence.

These awards celebrate the people shaping the future of our industry — through leadership, integrity, innovation, and culture.

01/07/2025

The People Awards at the Asset Finance Connect Summer Awards 2025 celebrate the individuals and teams driving positive change, culture, and innovation across the asset finance sector.

👏 Congratulations to this year’s outstanding winners:

🌍 Social Award 2025 - A big round of applause for Alfa, winner of the AFC Social Award 2025 — recognised for embedding inclusion, accessibility, and community impact into the heart of its business.

These awards celebrate the people shaping the future of our industry — through leadership, integrity, innovation, and culture.

01/07/2025

🌍 Celebrating Sustainability at the AFC Summer Awards 2025 🌍

A huge congratulations to Close Brothers Asset Finance — winner of the AFC Environment Award 2025! 👏

This Planet Award recognises organisations leading the way in environmental responsibility, sustainability, and positive impact. Close Brothers Asset Finance has taken on a pioneering role in financing the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy - most notably through their early, large-scale support for the hydrogen sector.

01/07/2025

👏 Congratulations to Renaissance Asset Finance Limited, winner of the Best Auto or Equipment Finance Organisation to Work For 2025 at the AFC Summer Awards – proudly sponsored by Acquis.

Voted for by employees, this award is a powerful testament to RAF’s outstanding culture and commitment to its people. A well-deserved recognition! 🌟