awards 2022 main room

A new era dawned at the Inaugural Asset Finance Connect Summer Awards held at the prestigious Hurlingham Club in London.  

More than 350 auto finance, equipment finance and asset finance professionals attended the event, to celebrate innovation and industry best practice in auto, asset and equipment finance. A total of 41 awards in 23 categories were presented during the course of a warm, friendly and vibrant evening, which also saw colleagues eager to catch up with old friends, renew existing acquaintances and make new contacts, while enjoying the food, drink and entertainment. 

The evening culminated in the presentation of three prestigious awards sponsored by the headline sponsor of the night - Alfa: Rising Star, CEO of the Year (auto and equipment finance) and Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Jones Richard AFC 2022 

Richard Jones, Managing Director of Lloyd’s Banking Group, was named CEO of the Year 2022 for Auto Finance. Jones has maintained a market leading position in both Black Horse and Lex Autolease whilst bringing the two businesses under a single unified management team in charge of both consumer and business auto finance to create the largest auto finance lender in the UK. As well as his work at Lloyds Banking Group, Jones also chaired the Finance and Leasing Association through a period of rapid change through the challenge of the COVID pandemic and provided continuity within the association as it changed its director general. 

Randall Mike AFC 2022

Mike Randall, CEO of Simply, was named CEO of the Year 2022 for Equipment Finance, for his solid track record in the UK asset finance industry and his “spirit of helping people” which spans out of the workplace and to the FLA and The Leasing Foundation where Randall aims to support the business finance industry through personal and professional development. 

Hinton laura AFC 2022

Laura Hinton of Mobilize Financial Services was the outstanding recipient of the Rising Star Award, with one of the judges describing Laura as “a truly inspirational young person taking a passionate standpoint and achieving results in a global organisation.” 

The final award of the night — the Lifetime Achievement Award — was bestowed on Paul Jennings, described by the judges as “a bedrock of the industry for a very long time. However, his length of stay in his role has certainly not diminished his appetite to innovate and continue innovating.” 

In a heartfelt acceptance speech that struck a strong chord with his audience, Jennings, who is retiring this year after 43 years at JCB Finance Ltd, dedicated his award to “all the young professionals that are in the room today…I hope you remain enthusiastic and honest and hard working.” As he passes the baton to the next generation of the industry, Jennings noted that “our business is about the people that are in it.”

The summer event, which is set to become an integral part of the asset finance calendar, was sponsored by Alfa as headline sponsor, FIS Global, NETSOL Technologies, QV Systems, Sopra Banking Software, VIP Apps Consulting, Propel Finance, and supported by Finativ.

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/assetfinanceconnect/ to see the latest photos from the AFC Summer Awards 2022.

2022 Awards

AwardWinnerHighly Commended
Subscriptions Product Development, sponsored by NETSOL Technologies Fairown Finance runyourfleet.com, FCA Bank & Tomorrow's Journey
Pay Per Use Outcome Linx4  
Digital Direct 2 Customer Platforms Shire Leasing PLC Digitallink, Lloyds Banking Group, iVendi
Best Use of IOT Intrador  
Mobility Services Innovation, sponsored by Sopra Banking Software Parkopedia  Shire Leasing PLC
Overall Innovation Acquis Data Services  
Environmental, Social and Governance Standards, sponsored by QV Systems Novuna Business Finance Capitas Finance Ltd
People and Skills CSI Leasing  
Best Employer Charles and Dean ALPHERA Financial Services
Customer Journey Excellence Bluestone Motor Finance Aldermore
Best Use of Technology, sponsored by VIP Apps Consulting Simply BMW Group Financial Services, Propel Finance
Best Marketing Strategy Rigby Capital Close Brothers Asset Finance
UK Brokers and Asset Finance Lenders Simply, United Trust Bank Novuna Business Finance
European Auto Finance BMW Group Financial Services MotoNovo Finance
European Equipment Finance, sponsored by FIS Global Societe Generale Equipment Finance  
Strongest Advance Propel Finance  
Strongest Growth Over Three Years Haydock Finance  
Strongest Loan Book Growth in One Year Close Brothers Asset Finance  
Rising Star Laura Hinton, Mobilize Financial Services David Reynell, Aldermore; Amar Rana, Credicar; Daniel Idowu, United Trust Bank
Equipment Finance CEO of the Year, sponsored by Alfa Mike Randall, Simply  
Auto Finance CEO of the Year, sponsored by Alfa Richard Jones, Lloyds Banking Group  
Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Alfa Paul Jennings, JCB Finance