Throughout his career, Chris Craft has operated with a philosophy centered on integrity and people. “Always operate with high integrity and remember that you win with your people. People count through the positive difference that they make both individually and as members of our high performing team,” Craft says. This principle reflects the foundation of how he approaches leadership.
Craft views the professional and personal growth of team members, along with the sustaining success of clients, as his proudest achievements. He points to the organization’s strategy of consistent focus on the execution of outstanding client service as a decision that has significantly impacted both growth and the company’s role in equipment finance.
Early in his leadership journey, Craft concentrated on tactical execution. Over time, his style evolved to require a strategic, long-term perspective with greater consideration of the big picture. This evolution also required working with larger groups across the organization while still ensuring that tactical fundamentals were executed crisply.
Craft’s legacy lies in his ability to build high-performing teams and deliver exceptional client service, strategies that have shaped both his organization and the broader market. Looking ahead, Craft advises the next generation of leaders to find high quality mentors and ask many questions. He notes that the valuable perspective gained from mentorship can aid the next generation of equipment finance leaders as they work to take the industry to even greater heights.
