With great sadness, Hitachi Capital Canada (CLE Capital Inc.) announced that Gary Batchelor, Senior Vice-President, Strategy and Business Development, Equipment Finance, passed away unexpectedly on January 29.

The entire Hitachi Capital Canada team is heartbroken and wishes to extend their heartfelt sympathies to Gary’s family and friends.

François Nantel, President of Hitachi Capital Canada has issued this statement: “Gary was a devoted leader and most importantly a mentor to many over his 30+ years in the equipment finance industry. Gary’s infectious laugh and contagious work ethic will be greatly missed by all.”

Gary worked passionately and was an integral member of the financing community since his beginnings in 1992. He arrived at CLE Capital in 2011. His tenure began as the Vice President of Sales and he established the first sales team in Ontario and Western Canada. He went on to form the Service Level Agreement in 2012 that commenced the relationship with Hitachi Capital Group and spear headed the launch of Hitachi Capital Canada in 2013.

He went on to be promoted in 2016 to Vice President, Intermediary Relations where his strong relationship development skills were of paramount importance in developing the Intermediary channel within the company.

He believed that hard work, dedication and consistent learning was the key to the growth of the company. That is just one of the many reasons why in 2019 he was once again promoted to Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Equipment Finance.

Additionally, Gary liked to give back to the community that he loved. He was involved with the CFLA since 1997 and won the “Member of the Year” award in 2008.

Within the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association, Gary has been dedicated to promoting the industry as a career path of choice for up and coming individuals.

He was the Chairman of the Education and Planning Committee. Whilst also being a contributing member of the “Women in Asset Financing” committee he, along with the committee members were recently awarded with a “CFLA 2019 Member of the Year” award at the annual CFLA conference last September in Vancouver.

Aside from work, Gary’s passions were golf, cars, scotch, travel, sushi and Blackberry. He’s a well-known ambassador in the industry and he will be sorely missed by many.