Key Equipment Finance, the commercial and bank-based equipment leasing and finance division of KeyBank, announced the retirement of Adam Warner after serving as the company’s President since 2009. Peter Bullen has been named Group Head of Key Equipment Finance (KEF) and will assume responsibility for KEF’s leadership. He will report to Derek Chauvette, Group Head of Public Sector, Native American Financial Services and KEF and is based in Cleveland, OH.
Bullen joined Key in 1996 and previously served as Executive Vice President of Key Equipment Finance’s bank channel and clean energy markets, which includes overseeing the company’s direct equipment finance solutions for middle market and large corporate companies, as well as financing solutions for energy projects through vendor and direct relationships.
“Peter has worked with KEF’s clients for nearly three decades and has developed strong relationships across the industry,” said Chauvette. “His combination of industry experience, leadership skills and proven track record for collaboration make him a natural fit for this position, and I look forward to working with him in his new role.”
In addition to his role within KEF, Bullen is also an established leader within the equipment finance industry. He served as a member of the Bank Council Steering Committee for the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) for several years before being appointed to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation (ELFF) Board of Trustees in 2022, where he currently serves as incoming treasurer.
Bullen earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Miami University and his MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Warner’s retirement is effective Dec. 31, 2023. He joined Key Equipment Finance in 2001, and his career with the company has included managing the organization’s direct sales, corporate aviation, and specialty finance lending organizations. His tenure also includes leading the company’s global vendor operations, which encompassed direct oversight of 65 employees in 16 countries. As part of his global vendor responsibilities, Warner helped Key establish an analytics and underwriting business presence in India, an effort that benefitted all of KeyBank in offering better operating results and performance.
“Adam has been pivotal to Key Equipment Finance’s success over the past 22 years,” said Randy Paine, President of Key Institutional Bank. “He has made significant contributions to the industry and local community, where he has excelled as a leader, advocate, and mentor. I am grateful for his contributions, and we wish him the best in retirement.”
Warner’s career includes serving on the ELFA’s board of directors for eight years, including his tenure as chairperson of the board from 2013-2014. He also served on the University of Colorado-Boulder Leeds School of Business board of directors from 2014-2023. Under Warner’s leadership, Key secured more than $500,000 in resources to fund and establish the KeyBank Business Leadership Program (BLP) and the KeyBank Summer Bridge Program to provide scholarships and hands on experiences to students at the University of Colorado-Boulder Leeds School of Business (CU Boulder).