“Those of us who are on the panel, we’ve had an opportunity to hear others’ perspective on the industry today, industry in the past and also the challenges and opportunities that are there for us in the future… I’ve spent a lot more time preparing thoughts, but we haven’t compared answers and that’s rather unique in a panel to have more of a debate type of perspective.” – Eric McGriff

Eric McGriff
Chief Risk Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance
Board Member, Black Equipment Finance Network
Editorial Advisory Board Member, Monitor

Eric McGriff has been in the equipment finance industry for 35 years while also being involved in the asset-based lending, specialty finance, distribution finance and inventory finance industries. He has served as a senior leader with responsibilities for credit, portfolio management, collections, asset management, operations, customer service, legal operations and statistical modeling.

McGriff is currently the chief risk officer of Wintrust Specialty Finance, a board member of the Black Equipment Finance Network and an editorial advisory board member of Monitor. He was also previously employed by TIAA Bank and predecessors, such as EverBank, holding the position of senior vice president and senior divisional credit officer for the vendor equipment finance business.

McGriff’s previous employers also include American Express Business Finance, where he served as COO, Pinnacle Advisory Services, which he founded and served as president, and AT&T Credit, where he began his career in 1986, ultimately rising to president.

McGriff received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Behavioral Science from Drew University and received a Graduate Credit Management Certificate from the New York Institute of Credit. McGriff currently serves on the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Credit and Collections Committee and Equality Committee, as well as the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Research Committee.