HOT IN A GOOD CAUSE - As charity events go, the head of leasing at Capita Asset Funding Solutions can certainly spot a challenge—a whole 5km of it. That said, Geoff Kontzle did complete the Battersea Park run in 37 minutes and 10 seconds: not bad for a London-based lease broker more used to City wine bars than running in temperatures of 30 degrees. It was not just the heat he had to overcome but the congestion caused by some 11,000 runners. All were there, however, including a number of other Capita entrants, in aid of good causes: the NSPCC and the Princes Trust.

LADIES NOT BARRED! - The August 2003 Leasing Industry Golf Day played in memory of Tom Clark brought to almost £30,000 the contribution to Dr Topham’s cancer research fund.

Tom would have been somewhat dismayed at the lack of leasing lady golfers. Over 20 years ago he was arguing that the industry should open its doors to more lady executives. With the exception of Heather Clark—gallantly leading a family team of Tom’s Troops around their home course—and Rosemary Chadder—showing the rest of the LEASINGLife team a swing or two—not a lady took to the field.

At least the ladies prizes could be evenly distributed: the former took the straightest drive, and the latter the nearest the pin. The men’s longest drive would have equalled that of the best pros. Bank of Scotland’s James Gribble blasted the ball 350 yards, while Adil Abdat of Lease Portfolio Management (LPM) won the men’s nearest the pin.

Abdat had a lot more to be cheerful about when the team prizes for the Stableford were confirmed as: first, LPM on 87 points; second, CHP Consulting 1 on 86 points; and third, Experian 3 on 85 points. The prizes were donated by Lloyds Leasing, LEASINGLife and CHP.

This was the first year that Heather Clark had handed over the organisation— to Peter Miles, David Osborne, Andy Page and Vic Lock. Fortunately, CHP’s Dora Michael—ably assisted by Emma Flacke—was able to sort out the woods from the tees. Although she has just taken up the game, Michael declined to play—this year! Rumour has it that having had to go out in a buggy to find the late-running CHP 3 team—lost balls a problem apparently—she has decided she would like to play next year. Tom would be delighted but what about the organisation?

FISHY, VERY FISHY INDEED - Norton Folgate managing director Robert Keep recently recalled walking into a house as a young, fresh-faced financial services rep where he saw the biggest fish tank he had ever seen. It literally covered one wall, it was tacky and fantastic at the same time and full of fish, as one would expect. Some years later, he walked into the reception of a company that required a vendor-finance programme and saw what was the largest fish tank he thought could exist.

“I am told this is a bad sign,” he laughed, “beware of companies with fish tanks in reception, new Bentley cars in the car park and designated parking bays marked ‘chairman’.” Recently, he was further surprised by a request to provide £1.5m of leasing facilities for a fish tank. An offer he could not refuse to place!

WORTH GETTING A PENALTY - The UK’s soccer-mad motor dealers are being given a chance to net themselves £100,000—and help motor charity BEN. Park Motor Finance (PMF), a subsidiary of the Park Finance Group, has teamed up with a national shoot-out penalty competition in a major sponsorship deal that will see PMF offer 100 dealers the opportunity to enter a team into the event free of charge. PMF has also provided the competition with £10,000 of sponsorship to allow £10 from each entry fee of £60 to be donated to BEN. Matches start this month (October), with the £100,000 “winner takes all” televised final at a major football venue in April 2004.

OBITUARY - LEASINGLife was saddened to hear of the untimely death of Mark Stevens. Although Mark left the industry a few years ago to pursue other business interests, he will be remembered for his time in marketing and new business roles with Ford Motor Credit, McDonnell Douglas Bank, Chase Leasing and Newcourt.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Leasing Life
 
Leasing Life Issue: 121 - October 03
Published for the web: May 23 04 12:46
Last Updated: July 1 04 12:50
www.leasinglife.co.uk