Valerie L. Gerard, senior managing director and leader of The Alta Group’s Strategy & Competitive Alignment Practice, believes continued future-focused research is critical to the prosperity of the equipment finance industry.

She was recently appointed a new member of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation Board of Trustees along with Chris Enbom of AP Equipment Financing, Lori Frasier of Key Equipment Finance, Zack Marsh of Orion First Financial and Michael Romanowski of Farm Credit Leasing Service Corporation.

“I’m pleased to give back to the industry that’s been so good to me throughout my career. Given my background in strategic research, I’m looking forward to helping guide the foundation’s research efforts, which are critical for the continued expansion of equipment finance and innovation in our field,” Gerard said.

Gerard has contributed to important foundation research in recent years, including authoring its first report on managed solutions. She has written or contributed to hundreds of innovative research papers and company-specific reports throughout her career, including the introduction of the rating industry’s very first risk-adjusted capitalization model for non-bank financial companies.

At Alta, she manages the consultancy’s largest practice, focused on management strategy and competitiveness. Her research and consulting work for clients includes market entry, disruptive business models, vendor/captive programs, capitalization strategies, operational efficiency, rating agency advisory, competitive intelligence and market survey projects. She is also a member of Alta’s Management Committee.

Gerard also is a founding member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Women’s Council, which is helping advance women in the industry. She is on the steering committee of the Commercial Equipment Marketplace Council, which is addressing the increasing role of fintechs in equipment finance.

Prior to joining Alta, she headed her own strategic advisory firm and earlier served as chief investor relations officer for several S&P 500 and FTSE 100 companies in New York and London. She was previously in charge of the Finance and Leasing Company Group for Fitch Ratings Service and covered both commercial banks and the securities industries at The Chase Manhattan Bank and The Irving Trust Company, respectively.