Viren Joshi Joins AirFinance to Lead Working Capital, Supply Chain and Infrastructure Financing

September 8, 2020 - AirFinance announced today that Viren Joshi has joined AirFinance as a Managing Director. Based in Ottawa, Canada, he will work with senior leadership to help expand the firm’s working capital, supply chain and infrastructure financing capabilities.

Mr. Joshi has more than 25 years of industry experience at Export Development Canada (EDC), where he held various roles related to asset financing across sales and structuring. Most recently, he was Global Accounts Director for EDC’s aviation sector where he managed global aerospace companies such as Airbus, Bombardier, Bell Helicopter, Pratt & Whitney, DeHavilland, and ATR. Mr. Joshi developed in-depth knowledge of the aerospace sector, becoming an industry expert and speaker at various aviation conferences. Prior to this position, he was a member of the adjudication team at EDC reviewing credit decisions across all sectors. Over the course of his career, Mr. Joshi has held roles in deal origination, underwriting, relationship management, corporate and project finance.

Kirsten Bartok, Managing Partner, said, “Viren is recognized across the industry for his exceptional track record and robust network of professional relationships around the globe. Bringing Viren into our organization exemplifies our ongoing commitment to hiring the best-in-class talent to think creatively and serve our clients in their financing needs.”

Thomas Low, Managing Partner, said, “We are excited to welcome Viren to the team. I started working closely with Viren in 2008 when he headed up the process to set up a $250 million unique EDC facility for Textron. Since that time, Viren has worked with AirFinance on many large projects to help develop creative and instrumental aircraft financing programs. He has been very impressive in his structuring knowledge that protects the lender while also fitting the customers’ needs. Viren has an ability to deliver a quick yes or no and when the answer is yes, leads those deals over any hurdles to the finish line. This move represents an extension of our business and opens a new channel through which our team can continue to add value to our corporate clients.”

As an EXIM Working Capital Delegated Authority Lender, AirFinance has provided ECA backed working capital and inventory loans in the past, most recently to Embraer Executive Aircraft with a $97,000,000 revolving loan facility. The line of business has accelerated during the pandemic, as US EXIM and other ECAs have responded to COVID-19 and its impact to manufacturers and their supply chains by expanding the scope of their working capital and supply chain products to make them more accessible. The drop in revenues resulting from COVID-19 restrictions has caused significant liquidity issues for many U.S. companies.

AirFinance has also expanded to include infrastructure development in emerging markets through its EXIM, EDC and DFC partnerships. Infrastructure projects include airports, roads and hospital development. “The addition of Viren will provide another seasoned export and project finance executive to quarterback the work we do in emerging markets.”

“I am delighted to be joining AirFinance and look forward to working with such a high caliber team. This is a unique opportunity to leverage my relationships, ideas and experience and I look forward to helping expand AirFinance’s working capital, supply chain and infrastructure financing business,” concluded Mr. Joshi.

Mr. Joshi received his Master (Economics) from University of Toronto and completed his CFA in 1998.

ABOUT AIRFINANCE: AirFinance Leasing LLC is a global structured and project finance company focused on the financing of aerospace and other large assets exports. AirFinance is led by a team of structured and development finance professionals with extensive industry experience, including corporate, asset and project financing, aircraft leasing, infrastructure finance, credit analysis, structuring of cross-border transactions, legal and domicile expertise, and technical knowledge of all aspects of asset and inventory management. As an EXIM Delegated Authority Lender and under EXIM’s Qualified Advisors Program, the private-public partnership leverages private-sector expertise by allowing qualified industry experts to assess credit risks and expedite EXIM-supported financing for aerospace and other large assets.