First American Equipment Finance, a City National Bank Company, today announced that Alan Sikora has been named Chief Executive Officer. Alan succeeds company founder Bill Verhelle, who is stepping down as CEO. This planned transition comes on the 3-year anniversary of City National Bank’s acquisition of First American. Verhelle will remain as a consultant to the company.
“We could not have imagined a better parent company for First American,” said Bill Verhelle. “I have the greatest respect for Russell Goldsmith (CEO, City National) and Bram Goldsmith (Chairman Emeritus, City National) and City National’s outstanding leadership team,” said Verhelle. “I will miss all my friends and colleagues at First American; however, I know they are in good hands and will accomplish great things under Alan’s leadership,” added Verhelle.
Alan Sikora joined First American in 2002 and has held various operations, sales and leadership positions throughout the business. Since 2011, Sikora has served as First American’s president.
“We have an outstanding team of professionals at First American and our future has never been brighter,” said Sikora. “Under Bill’s leadership, the company has experienced exceptional success over the last two decades. My colleagues and I look forward to continuing the company’s positive momentum in the years to come.”
Alan Sikora has a B.A. in economics from the University of Rochester and an M.B.A. from University of Rochester's Simon Graduate School of Business. He is the current Chair of the Financial Institutions Business Council Steering Committee of the Washington-DC based Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA).
[ABOUT FIRST AMERICAN EQUIPMENT FINANCE] On May 1, 2012 First American Equipment Finance (www.faef.com) became a wholly owned subsidiary of Los Angeles, CA-based City National Bank (www.cnb.com). First American is ranked among the largest equipment finance companies in the United States (http://www.monitor-digital.com/monitor/2014_monitor_100), and provides commercial equipment financing to the most creditworthy and sophisticated commercial borrowers in the country. Before being acquired by City National, First American was recognized eight times on the Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 listing of the fastest growing private companies in the United States (http://www.inc.com/profile/first-american-equipment-finance). First American has also been recognized four times among the Best Places to Work in New York State (10-249 employees) (http://bestcompaniesny.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51) , and most recently as one of Fortune Magazine’s 20 Great Workplaces in Financial Services (http://fortune.com/2015/02/18/20-great-workplaces-in-financial-services/), as also profiled by Great Rated (http://us.greatrated.com/first-american-equipment).
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PRESS CONTACT: Karen Pomazal, Senior Vice President, Marketing 585.643.3381 | karen.pomazal@faef.com