First Financial Corporate Services announced the promotion of Brad Wheatley to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Wheatley has served as First Financial’s CFO for the past five years, where he was responsible for the company’s financial recording and reporting systems, and assisting senior management in residual value forecasting and credit underwriting.
 
In his new role as COO, Wheatley will oversee credit underwriting and lease pricing, master lease and schedule negotiations, lease end of term negotiations and buyout pricing, and supervise the contract administration staff. According to Richard Stebbins, First Financial co-founder and Co-President, “Wheatley’s extensive financial and managerial expertise was invaluable to the company over the last several years as we grew our business throughout the US and expanded operations into Canada. He has proven to be a key contributor to our strategic growth initiatives, and we look forward to having him serve as the company’s first COO.”
 
Mr. Wheatley has over 38 years experience in a variety of financial officer positions at both large financial institutions such as Aetna Life and Casualty and Comdisco, as well as at two smaller, specialty equipment leasing companies, Third Coast Capital and Gaming Capital Group. Wheatley earned his BA from Union College, Schenectady, New York and his MBA from the Wharton School.