Keith Rodwell, who has worked with global finance leaders in the equipment finance industry for more than three decades, joined The Alta Group to lead its Asia-Pacific region. His expertise includes corporate finance, funding, capital management, mergers and acquisitions, risk management and compliance.
Rodwell has held executive leadership posts across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, working with companies such as GE Capital and CIT Group. His experience spans a variety of specialty finance products and distribution strategies, including large- and small-ticket equipment finance and leasing, dealer floorplan and vendor finance programs.
In his new role, he will combine his own skills with Alta’s global network of advisors to assist clients in various competencies ranging from innovation and strategy development to business modeling, risk management and funding options. He will also look to expand the capabilities of The Alta Group in the Asia-Pacific region with other advisors across the region.
Rodwell is an expert in driving profitable growth with strong risk and compliance performance in demanding and complex markets. He was Asia-Pacific head of CIT Group’s vendor finance business from 2007 to 2010, initially leading the business turnaround in Australia and New Zealand and then managing the Asia-Pacific region. He led the sale of the CIT ANZ business to Bank of Queensland and established BOQ Finance. His operating experience was also evident at Challenger Life, where he started a business to fund new fintechs and established finance companies through their growth phase. Under his leadership, assets under management for the company rose to more than $750 million while total investments were more than $2 billion.
“I am thrilled to be part of The Alta Group and look forward to the opportunity to bring the expertise of Alta’s global advisor network to the Asia-Pacific region,” Rodwell said. “The Alta Group has a unique capability based on the extensive operating experience of all their advisors in the equipment finance industry. We live in a time of rapid change when that expertise has never been more relevant.”
“Keith is a welcome and necessary addition to our team,” Valerie L. Gerard, co-CEO of The Alta Group, said. “He’s a well-recognized leader in Asia-Pacific and I’m confident he will play a pivotal role in providing and implementing high-quality, value-added advisory solutions throughout the region. Clients will undoubtedly benefit from his regional expertise.”
Rodwell has been active in the broader equipment finance industry as a director and deputy chair of the Australian Finance Industry Association and chair of the Australian Equipment Lessors Association, a precursor to the AFIA. His significant contributions to the industry earned him the AFIA’s inaugural lifetime achievement award.
