Deborah Baker

Head, Worldwide Leasing and Financing, HP Inc
Board of Directors, Equipment Leasing and Financing Association
Chairperson, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Women’s Council
Member, Monitor Editorial Board

Deborah Baker has spent her entire career in leasing and lending, starting with her first “real” job at AT&T Capital supporting three senior collectors. She continued working with AT&T throughout college, taking on increasing responsibilities and learning the leasing business. Throughout her tenure there and at the company’s successors, including Newcourt and CIT, she took on a variety of roles, including collections, contracts, inside sales, business development and marketing. While each position expanded her knowledge of the industry, it was within the inside sales group where she learned the technical aspects of leasing and financing, along with how to overcome objections and accept rejection. 

In 2001, Baker joined Compaq Capital, which became HP Financial Services (HPFS). She was awarded her first people manager role and quickly learned the importance of having an adaptive leadership style, managing each colleague based on their individual needs. She also experienced the value of diversity across gender, ethnicity and age.

Following a ten-year stint with HPFS, Baker accepted a role with Cisco Capital as Americas director of operations, gaining exposure to both captive and non-captive financing through partnerships with bank and non-bank lenders. She finished her tenure at Cisco in Global Engagement Management and Learning and Development, before moving into her current position as the head of Worldwide Leasing and Financing for HP.

At HP, she has established a small team of knowledgeable professionals with diverse industry, geographic and cultural expertise. Together, she and her team work to define and implement a global, profitable and market competitive leasing and financing solution, accelerating HP’s growth in contractual sales.

Baker is an active participant in various industry associations. She joined the ELFA board of directors in October 2019 and is excited to be the incoming chair of the ELFA Women’s Council. She is also a member of the newly formed ELFA Equality Committee.

“Deb has extensive experience across the leasing and financing spectrum, bringing in-depth knowledge and leadership to everything she is engaged with. She is passionate about the value of leasing and financing and isn’t shy about asserting her view to support the vitality of our industry,” says Carolyn Amberg, director of AMS Leasing & Financing. “Deb is also a valuable mentor to many early career leasing colleagues, helping them learn the business while promoting how the industry has afforded her an interesting, challenging and prosperous career.”