Monitor 2021 Women’s List: Sarah Palmer

by Monitor Staff Nov/Dec 2021

Sarah Palmer,
Senior Vice President, Credit Underwriting and Asset Management,
Key Equipment Finance

Sarah Palmer joined Key Equipment Finance (KEF) in 2006 and has served as an underwriting executive since 2016. Over the past year, Palmer’s role has expanded to managing the asset management function at KEF and overseeing the company’s equipment valuation, residual setting and equipment remarketing activities. During her KEF tenure, Palmer’s role has evolved to include responsibility for underwriting and risk management, including oversight of underwriting for specialty finance and bank channel origination activities and the company’s portfolio management and compliance functions.

VISION FOR THE FUTURE:

“The future of the equipment finance industry looks vibrant and inclusive. Industry changes over the next decade should include financing equipment that will change the world for the better, attracting a wide range of diverse individuals to participate and providing inspiring and fun career opportunities for those dedicated to the field of equipment lending.”

Palmer takes pride in her ability to adapt to change and lead new teams. At the beginning of a challenging 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Palmer added facilities management to her existing job responsibilities, leading KEF and her own teams through a very smooth migration to a work-from-home environment. More recently, she helped create and lead the strategic plan to transition back to working from the KEF offices. During this challenging period, Palmer ensured KEF’s domestic and international staff were well equipped to adapt to changing conditions. At the same time, she actively managed the credit portfolio as COVID-19 impacted the economy, ensuring that KEF could continue maintaining the high level of client service the institution expects of itself.

Palmer is committed to helping others move forward and to becoming a stronger leader and role model for women in business. She strives to be regarded as a professional who leads with strong empathy for others. Palmer actively participates in formal and informal mentor relationships, both inside the finance industry and within her community, particularly amongst women in business.

“Sarah is a highly experienced member of the Key Equipment Finance leadership team,” Philip Turner, executive vice president and managing director of capital markets at Key Equipment Finance, says. “She’s honed a rare skill of blending her deep industry knowledge with strong interpersonal skills, prioritizing employee inclusion and mentoring to develop the team of professionals that work with her.”

Palmer serves as a member of the credit and collections planning committee for the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. Annually, she plays a key role in planning the conference for credit and risk management for ELFA members. She also serves as a member of the captive and vendor finance business council steering committee for the ELFA.

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