Accord Financial Corp., one of the U.S. and Canada’s independent commercial finance companies, has added to its U.S. business development team with the hiring of Ira Almond as Director of Business Development, U.S. Asset Based Finance, Southeast and Sahil Sharma as Director of Business Development, U.S. Equipment Finance, Northeast. Each is responsible for developing partnerships across a broad range of industries providing creative equipment financing solutions to middle market businesses while expanding and deepening Accord’s relationships within the independent sponsor and intermediary communities.

“Ira and Sahil have the experience and knowledge to quickly assess our customers and partners financing needs and respond with a unique Accord product offering,” said Jim Hogan, President, U.S. Commercial Finance. “With the addition of both Ira and Sahil, Accord gains a strong presence throughout the East Coast as we push ahead with our growth plans,” said Marcel Borg, Vice President, National Sales, Accord Equipment Finance.

Almond has held front end roles at Wells Fargo Bank, BB&T (now Truist Bank) and PNC Bank. In addition, he is a graduate of BB&T’s leadership development program. He is a graduate of North Carolina A&T, has his MBA from Argosy University Atlanta, and a Green Belt in Six Sigma, Financial Services from Villanova University.

Sharma’s previous employment included various financial analyst roles within the pharmaceutical industry. He was also responsible for financial planning and analysis within the consumer technology sector, and inside sales within the banking industry. He is a graduate of Rutgers Business School with a dual degree in finance and accounting.

“Accord is a growing non-bank lending platform where I can utilize my relationship management skills as well as my extensive credit and underwriting experience,” said Almond.

“Accord provides an open platform to inspire growth and ideas,” Sharma added. “This company philosophy is a perfect fit for today’s rapidly changing market conditions, and I look forward to helping our customers as they create their own new ideas for growth.”