As Solifi marks a new chapter under the leadership of its newly appointed CEO, Dan Corazzi, the secured finance industry is poised for transformation. With over 25 years of experience in leading software companies, Corazzi’s arrival signals a renewed focus on customer-centricity, technological innovation, and cultural excellence within the organisation. Now 30 days into the role, he shares his insights with Asset Finance Connect on his strategic vision, priorities, and plans for the future of Solifi.
Why Solifi? The appeal of a market leader
Corazzi was drawn to Solifi for a combination of personal and professional reasons. “After 35 years in business and leading organisations, my primary interest was to continue leading a software company in the SaaS space,” he explains. More than that, he was attracted to Solifi’s reputation as a market leader. “I love working with mission-critical applications—ones that are essential to customers. In fintech, there’s a pressing need for digital transformation, and Solifi is well-positioned to drive that change.”
Building on a strong foundation
Taking the reins from David Hamilton, who now serves as Chairman at Solifi, Corazzi aims to build on the solid foundation already in place. “When you follow a great leader, you don’t tear apart what they’ve built—you evolve it. We will focus on being more innovative, more agile, and listening closely to market demands.”
Defining success: a five-year roadmap
Corazzi’s vision for success is rooted in three key areas: employees, customers, and financial stability. “You can’t have a strong organisation without excellent talent that is energised and excited about their work,” he asserts. He emphasises a culture of customer-first thinking and operational excellence. “I will spend a lot of time over the next five years implementing processes around customer health and satisfaction. If we have strong employees and satisfied customers, the result will be a financially sound organisation.”
Investing in people and culture
For Corazzi, culture is paramount. “Employees are the lifeblood of an organisation—not the software, not the buildings. We must attract world-class talent, provide competitive compensation, invest in training, and foster a culture of recognition.”
Post-COVID, he sees a growing need for connection and transparency. “With many employees working remotely, clear and open communication is critical. I want to be as transparent as possible.”
Prioritising customer-centricity
Corazzi is already making waves with his commitment to customer engagement, launching an ambitious “100 customers in 100 days” initiative. “My goal is to understand firsthand what’s working, what’s not, and how we can do better.” He also plans to appoint a Chief Customer Officer and expand the Customer Success Management (CSM) team. “Customer health will be a major focus, with dashboards and analytics to ensure we are proactively addressing their needs.”
Driving technological innovation
Under Corazzi’s leadership, Solifi will leverage AI and open platforms to reshape the secured finance industry. “AI is a buzzword, but the real question is: how do we serve up data in a better way? Through predictive insights, automation, and smarter integration with partner ecosystems, we can help our customers work more efficiently.”
Balancing innovation with reliability is key in the SaaS world. “Customers expect 24/7 uptime. So, we must ensure stability while continuously rolling out enhancements that customers actually need.”
Addressing ESG and green financing
Solifi is actively developing ESG-focused solutions, particularly in auto finance. “In Europe, ESG has an even stronger emphasis than North America. We started our ESG initiatives in mid-2023, with our ESG Portfolio Strategist product, using market research and customer feedback to create industry-specific solutions. It started with auto but will expand across all verticals.”
Navigating industry challenges
Higher interest rates and regulatory complexities are pressing concerns in secured finance. “Solifi will focus on agility—helping customers optimise processes despite regulatory challenges. The key is listening to their needs and staying ahead of industry shifts.”
Usage-based financing and renewable energy are emerging trends, and Corazzi is committed to positioning Solifi as a leader in these spaces. “We need to anticipate industry needs at least a year in advance so we’re not just reacting but proactively offering solutions.”
One of the biggest opportunities for growth, according to Corazzi, is cloud migration. “Many customers are still on-premise, but moving to the cloud offers better security, features, and cost efficiency. We’re focused on guiding them through that transition.”
Looking to the next 50 years
With Solifi having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, Corazzi is already thinking about how to secure the company’s future. “It all comes down to people, culture, and solutions that customers need. If we maintain our customer obsession, we will remain an industry leader.”
His message to Solifi’s customers, partners, and employees? “Thank you. Customers invest in us to run their businesses. Employees work tirelessly, often during off-hours, to support them. We will continue to be resilient, agile, and innovative—so our customers can count on us for the next 50 years.”
