What We Do
We are a commercial vehicle and equipment leasing company, providing business solutions for new and established businesses across Canada. We are "Focused on Solutions®". We strive to provide our strategic partners with competitive, unique and innovative equipment financing products and services to assist their customers to finance their growth and their dreams. We are proud to be one of Canada's only broker-based equipment and vehicle leasing companies.
Our Purpose
Enriching lives through investment in people and innovative business financing.
Our Brands
We have four distinct brands under the Bennington umbrella and they service different credit markets. By offering expanded risk segment coverage, we are able to maintain a customer for life focus.
Meet the Leadership Team
Ashley Yantzi
President & CEO
Ashley is President and Chief Executive Officer at Bennington. He brings over two decades of financial services leadership and expertise in equipment leasing and credit alongside a proven track record of delivering innovative financial solutions and driving customer-centric organizational growth.
Ashley joined Bennington in 2024 after seven years with Equitable Bank (Bennington’s parent company) where he most recently served as Vice President, Credit Risk, and Vice President & Head of Residential Lending. Prior to his time at Equitable Bank, Ashley held progressively senior roles with TD Bank and GE Capital.
Ashley holds a B.A. (Hons) in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a CFA charterholder.
Joe Adragna
Chief Financial Officer
Joe is Bennington’s Chief Financial Officer. He joined the company in 2020 with over 25 years of Finance and Accounting experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Bennington, Joe was the Director, Finance Projects and Internal Controls for Bennington’s parent company, Equitable Bank.
He joined Equitable Bank in 2017 after having held several Finance positions at CIBC including Director, HR Financial Governance and Controller of CIBC Investor Services Inc.
Joe holds an MBA from Wilfred Laurier University and is a CPA, CMA.
Shahan Khan
Vice President, Legal & General Counsel
Shahan is Bennington’s Vice President, Legal and General Counsel. Shahan joined the company in 2012 as Legal Counsel and has practiced law for over 10 years. Prior to joining Bennington, Shahan worked for different law firms in the Greater Toronto Area. Shahan obtained his B.A. (Hons) from the University of Toronto, graduating with high distinction and earning his J.D., from the University of Toronto.
Paul von Martels
Chief Operating Officer
Paul von Martels serves as Chief Operating Officer of Bennington Financial. In this role, he is responsible for the Company’s Business Development, Credit Management, and Customer Operations & Service. Paul joined Bennington in 2024, following 10 years at Equitable Bank (Bennington’s parent company) in progressively senior roles including M&A Integration, Commercial Real Estate Credit, Reverse Mortgage Lending and Corporate Development. Prior to Bennington and Equitable Bank, he worked at a global consultancy and in investment banking at a Canadian bank. Paul holds an MBA with distinction from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph.
Amanda Hoey
Vice President, Operations
Amanda is Bennington’s Vice President, Operations, responsible for the Funding, Contract Modifications, Quality Assurance, Customer Service and Insurance Departments. She started her career in 1989 at Pitney Bowes Leasing, moving to CITI Capital in 2003 before joining Bodkin Leasing in 2006. This experience combined with her time at Bennington adds up to over 30 years of leasing industry experience.
Sergio Carvalho
Vice President, Credit
Sergio is Bennington’s Vice President, Credit. Sergio joined the company in 2009 as a Credit Analyst, moving into various Credit management roles over the years, including Director, Credit for Equirex Leasing Corp. In 2019, Sergio was promoted to Vice President, Credit for all Bennington brands. Prior to joining Bennington, Sergio worked for RBC from 1995 to 2001 and for Wells Fargo Auto Finance as a Lending Manager from 2004 to 2009. Sergio holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto and an M.S. Ed. from Daemen College.
Katie Denis
Vice President, Human Resources
Katie is Bennington’s Vice President, Human Resources. She joined the company in 2008 as a Customer Service and Credit Coordinator for Equirex Leasing Corp. In 2010, Katie started the Equirex Human Resources department and with the purchase of Bodkin Leasing Corp. in 2011, the Bennington Human Resources Department was formed. Katie holds a B.A. (Hons) from Brock University, a post-graduate diploma in Human Resources Management and has also earned her designations as a CHRP, CHRL.
Liz Waddell
Vice President, Change Management
Liz is Bennington’s Vice President, Change Management. She joined the company in 2016 as the Director, Change Management. Liz brings two decades of financial services experience, including positions of increasing seniority with Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank, Macquarie Bank and TMX Group (TSX). Liz holds a Bachelor of Business Studies degree from the Institute of Technology (Technological University Dublin) and a Masters Degree in Management & Organization Behaviour from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business (University College Dublin).
Mark Hodson
Vice President, Business Development
Mark is Bennington’s Vice President, Business Development. He joined Bennington at the beginning of 2023 as part of the acquisition of Concentra Bank. Prior to the acquisition he led the Concentra Bank Leasing team for 3 years. Mark started his career over 25 years ago at Dana Commercial Credit and has held senior positions at some of the largest leasing companies in Canada.
Krishnan Kannan
Vice President, Technology
Krishnan is Bennington’s Vice President, Technology. He joined Bennington in September 2023 after spending two and half years at our parent company, Equitable Bank, as the Director of Shared Services on their Technology team. Prior to joining EQB, Krishnan worked at three of Canada’s major banks, leading teams of 75+ people. An engineer by trade, he started his career at IBM and has worked in India, US and Sweden, as a developer/QA before becoming an architect and eventually moving to Canada.