Industry icon and former ELFA Chair John Giddens passed away on Jan. 6, 2020 in Sausalito, CA.

Giddens had a distinguished career in the equipment finance industry. He was a long-time senior executive at U.S. Leasing Corp., then the largest lessor in the industry, and the pioneer of formal vendor finance programs for U.S. industrials.

After retiring from U.S. Leasing, Giddens and three other equipment finance professionals founded the consulting firm The Alta Group.

Giddens was a leading force in transitioning ELFA into a modern professional industry trade association. He served as a director and vice chairman for over 12 years and as ELFA Chair from 1983 to 1985. In addition, he was a life-long mentor to many industry professionals.

Giddens was an inaugural inductee into the Equipment Finance Hall of Fame in 2014.