BNP Paribas rising star Jean-Michel Boyer has taken over the UK operation as CEO following former chief exec Tristan Watkins' appointment to Programme Manager of the BNP Paribas North America Growth Plan, a joint initiative with Bank of the West to expand the Group's equipment finance business in the US and Canada over the next three years.
Boyer will be responsible for providing leadership and management for the 450-strong team and overseeing key customer relationships.
He has worked with the BNP Paribas group for over 30 years, starting in 1986 at UFB Locabail, the equipment leasing arm of Paribas subsidiary Compagnie Bancaire.
Boyer has held several senior managerial, sales, and business development positions within the Agriculture, Technology Solutions, and International Business Lines Equipment & Logistics Solutions (IBL ELS) divisions.
Boyer joined the French division of BNP Paribas Leasing Solution in 2009 as Head of Equipment and Leasing Solutions before becoming General Manager of BNP Paribas Rental Solutions Trucks in 2013. In December 2015, he was appointed Business Development Director of the IBL ELS and President of CLAAS Financial Services SAS.
Boyer said: "There has never been a dull moment in my long career within the BNP Paribas Group, and I'm very much looking forward to the next chapter in this journey.
"Last year, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions UK advanced in excess of £1.25 billion to over 100,000 British businesses. In my role as CEO, I hope to play a key role in exceeding our ambitious growth targets year-on-year and strengthening our reputation."