WEST ORANGE, NJ (April 26, 2014)– ZRG Partners Inc. announces the results of its First Quarter Global Equipment Leasing and Asset Finance Hiring Index, GELAF Q1 2014. Q1 shows an increase in global hiring of 11%, while the United States showed the biggest gain this quarter with an increase in 20% over Q4, some spots in Europe are also posting signs of growing hiring requirements. The UK region was another leading force for the quarter, posting an 18% gain in demand. France was also part of that equation. After bottoming out in Q3, France is starting to show new life for lending and leasing talent. Austerity could be giving way to opportunity. Offsetting for the growth in the U.S. and Europe, the BRIC countries showed another quarter of decline, posting four straight periods of reduced demand for talent in the leasing and lending skillsets. The general slowdown in Brazil, coupled with the Russian instability could be dampening enthusiasm for growth plans in these two markets. China also showed less need for talent. The only positive trend in hiring amongst the BRIC’s was India, which bucked the trend. South America dipped as a category, although individually Mexico and Chile both were slightly higher this quarter from end of year demand figures. About ZRG Partners ZRG Partners, Inc. is a global authority on talent management issues within the equipment finance and leasing markets. ZRG provides its clients with specialized market expertise in executive recruitment, consulting and advisory work with a focus on data and analytics to drive great business decisions.

The Hiring Index is published quarterly and is based on several key proprietary data sources. These data sources include hiring data that comes directly from benchmark firms that make up the Index as well as 20 different job boards and several leasing / commercial finance industry- specific job sites. The sample group includes banks, captives and independents.

For more information, visit www.zrgpartners.com. For press requests or for permission to use this data in other media form, contact Larry Hartmann at +1-201-560-9900 x222 or Ken Lubin at +1-508-366-5800 x219.