John A. Hurt, formerly the senior vice president of technology for MB Equipment Finance, has joined The Alta Group as a director in its Digital Business Advisory Practice. He has more than 20 years of executive experience in information technology (IT).
He is working with John D. Rizzi, managing director and head of the practice, to address the technology needs of equipment leasing and asset finance organizations.
“We are helping people navigate what is right now a very dynamic landscape as their companies struggle with legacy systems and new entrants in the IT market,” Hurt says. “It can be very tough for companies to evaluate the capabilities of providers and determine the technology needed to meet corporate goals. Some providers also are converting to new technology, which is making the process even more difficult for leasing companies.”
Hurt has the experience to guide leasing companies at all stages in their technology decisions, notes Alta CEO John C. Deane. During this career, Hurt has helped design and apply technology to support lease and loan originations, national sales teams, customer relationship management platforms, and process improvement initiatives.
From 2012 until its merger with MB in 2014, he was senior vice president of technology for the startup of Cole Taylor Equipment Finance, where he was responsible for strategic system design, evaluation, selection, and implementation of core systems.
Prior to that, Hurt was senior vice president of information systems for LaSalle National Leasing, now part of Banc of America Leasing, where he developed IT strategies for the company’s U.S. and Canadian leasing divisions and pioneered a market-leading sales management strategy. Earlier in his career he was director of IT for The Time Group and Harbor Leasing Associates (now Madison Capital), head of IT during the startup and growth of Fieldstone Mortgage Company, and founder of Creek View Consulting Group, which assisted growing businesses in leveraging technology to improve sales-force effectiveness and back-office efficiency.
Hurt has served on the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) operations & technology committee and technology award review committee. He has also been a speaker at National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) events. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Towson State University in Maryland.