Jim Case, Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Case began his career in finance with Citibank.  In 1984 he founded Benndorf Verster Leasing, a captive office equipment leasing company, and went on to found the Travelers Financial Group in 1986. Jim oversees all operational aspects of the Travelers companies, guiding strategic and tactical initiatives for the Travelers group of companies: Travelers Acceptance Corporation (Consumer Finance) and Travelers Financial Corporation. He also leads our Corporate Finance group, providing structured finance expertise in the areas of project finance, senior term lending and ABL lines of credit. Mr. Case is CEO for Travelers Leasing Corporation (Automotive Finance), a wholly owed subsidiary of The Bank of Nova Scotia.  Mr. Case is a Board Member of the CFLA and is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Pacific award recipient.

Dennis Holmes, Chairman & Director

Mr. Holmes became a partner in Travelers in 1989, and contributes over 30 years experience in the equipment leasing and banking industries. As Chairman, his primary duties include mentorship of the Executive team, management of both corporate and independent directors, overseeing acquisitions, and stewardship of the Group’s strategic alliances. As President of Pacific National Leasing in the 1980’s, Dennis was part of the team that grew that company from start-up to over 300 employees in Canada and the United States. During that time PNL achieved a public listing on The Toronto Stock Exchange and later acquired a San Francisco based commercial bank. At the time of his departure, PNL had an equipment and auto leasing portfolio in excess of $350 million and ranked among the top 10 leasing companies in Canada. Dennis has served on the executive boards of the American Association of Equipment Lessors and the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association.

Gary Thompson, Executive Vice-President

Mr. Thompson (B.Comm., Finance) has over 25 years experience assessing credit and portfolio risk in a variety of finance industry sectors including equipment leasing, commercial lending, venture capital and project financing. His past senior positions include Director of the B.C. Export Investment Fund, Vice-President of AT&T Capital Canada Inc., and Vice-President of First City Equipment Finance Group. Gary became a partner in Travelers in 1997 and is responsible for bank lines, securitization facilities, Alliance programs, credit policy, and portfolio quality for each of the operating companies within the Travelers Group.

Mr. Sigerist joined Travelers in October 2004 and is responsible for all consumer financing activities of Travelers Acceptance Corporation, with a focus on the continuing expansion of direct and indirect loan origination channels and captive finance partnerships. Past senior consumer finance industry positions include Managing Director of Credit Acceptance Corporation in the United Kingdom, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Retail Finance Group division of CIT Group, National Director of Marketing for Danka Business Systems PLC, and Vice President of eSupplies.com. While at CIT from 1996 to 2000 Karl set up numerous consumer loan origination channels and captive finance partnerships on an e-commerce lending platform to enhance the ability of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to integrate financing into the sale of their goods and services. That operation grew from start-up to assets of $385 million providing Karl with the experience to take Travelers Acceptance Corporation along the same path.

Roberto Cortese, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (Travelers Financial Corporation)

Roberto Cortese is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Travelers Financial Corporation. He is responsible for all operational, strategic, marketing and tactical programs for the company’s equipment leasing business. Roberto Cortese joined Travelers in December of 2005. He brings to Travelers a broad range of experience having held a number of senior management positions in the leasing industry. Immediately prior to joining Travelers, Mr. Cortese was Vice President and General Manager for Sales, Marketing and Asset Management for De Lage Landen Financial Services Canada, a subsidiary of Rabobank based in Toronto. He was responsible for Commercial activities and the formulation of direct market business development and branding strategies for De Lage Landen globally and regionally in the mid to large ticket manufactured capital equipment markets including the office equipment, technology, health, material handling, construction and agriculture businesses as well as financial institution and strategic business units. Mr. Cortese led a staff of 65, directed internal operations, including human resources, strategic planning, and sales and centralized administration areas. Prior to De Lange, Mr. Cortese was Western Canada Regional Manager, based in Vancouver, for Copelco Capital. Mr. Cortese also has experience as Regional Sales Manager with Newcourt Financial and has held various management positions within Norex Leasing, Commcorp Financial and Newcourt. Mr. Cortese holds a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University; Freeman School of Business, and a Marketing Degree from the University of British Columbia.