Lombard’s Nigel Clibbens takes the chair at UK Finance & Leasing Association

Nigel Clibbens, chief operating officer at Lombard, the UK’s largest asset finance provider, has been confirmed as the next chairman of the UK Finance & Leasing Association (FLA).

He takes the position from the previous chairman Philip Ross, senior vice president sales at Honda Motor Europe.

Commenting on the role, which has a two-year tenure, Clibbens said: “I’m very honoured to be appointed as the FLA’s Chairman. The leasing sector has played a fundamental role in supporting the UK’s economic recovery, providing over £22bn of funding to businesses in 2013. The FLA has a vital part to play in ensuring that this continues in an upward trend, maintaining its strong lobbying position to support the sector and building on the higher profile that has been established.”

Clibbens has held a seat on the FLA Board for the last three years. He brings to the role the benefit of 33-years’ experience in the financial services sector, as well as strong product knowledge, a background in risk and operations and a strong awareness of governance and regulation.

He added: “I intend to use my tenure as chairman to continue to lift the standards of customer service in the sector, while working to raise awareness of the innovative and flexible funding solutions offered by the FLA’s members, as well as the key role we can play in establishing a sustainable economic recovery.”

Stephen Sklaroff, director general of the FLA, stressed: “I look forward to working with Nigel and know that his experience and insight will be invaluable to the FLA at this time of dramatic change in the regulatory environment and accelerating recovery.”

Prior to joining Lombard, Clibbens qualified as an accountant with KPMG and spent 10 years with them based primarily in London but with two years in Sydney and six months in Poland.

He joined NatWest in 1991 to set up an internal audit unit. In 1994 he moved to Lombard to become head of internal audit which he did for two years before moving to Rover Finance as Finance & Risk Director. When Rover Finance was closed Lombard took over the contract hire division which is now Lombard Vehicle Management as the Finance and Risk Director for Lombard.

In 2001 Clibbens became a Lombard main board director. He has several units reporting to him including Asset Management, Fraud, Complaints and Compliance and is responsible for all Basel 2 initiatives at Lombard. He is also a non-executive director of Motability Operations.