Willis Lease Taps Veteran Bridgland for New Asset Management Arm

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – January 22, 2026 – Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) has made a significant strategic move to bolster its newly formed asset management division, appointing industry veteran Steven Bridgland as Head of Investor Relations & Capital Markets for Willis Aviation Capital. The appointment signals a clear and aggressive push by the prominent engine lessor to establish a formidable presence in the managed funds sector of aviation finance.

Bridgland will be tasked with the crucial role of managing and expanding Willis Aviation Capital's relationships with institutional investors, a cornerstone for the new division's success. His responsibilities will also include supporting the deployment of capital into engine and aviation asset portfolios, effectively serving as the primary liaison between the company's operational expertise and its third-party capital partners.

A Veteran to Steer Capital Markets

With a career spanning more than three decades, Steven Bridgland brings a formidable resume and a deep network of global contacts to Willis Aviation Capital. His extensive background is rooted in the complex worlds of equity and debt capital markets, fund establishment, and aviation finance—a combination of skills tailor-made for launching a new asset management platform.

His career includes a significant seventeen-year tenure in senior capital markets and origination roles at Deucalion Aviation. His experience is further deepened by leadership positions at major financial institutions including DVB, RBC Capital Markets, and Greenwich NatWest. Most recently, Bridgland served as Senior Vice President and Head of Capital Markets at Crestone Air Partners, where he was responsible for capital strategy and investor relations. This breadth of experience across banking, leasing, and asset management platforms has given him a unique, holistic view of the aviation finance ecosystem.

Bridgland is widely recognized within the industry for his expertise in structuring complex, cross-border aviation funds and joint ventures for institutional investors across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This global experience is expected to be invaluable as Willis Aviation Capital seeks to attract a diverse base of international capital.

“Steve’s background in aviation finance, funds and investor relationship management speaks for itself and we are very excited to welcome him to support the launch of Willis Aviation Capital,” said Brian R. Hole, Global Head of Managed Funds & Credit at WLFC, in a statement. “Most importantly, Steve embodies the trustworthiness and integrity that always will feature in our work for investors and with Willis Lease Finance.”

The Strategic Pivot to Asset Management

Bridgland's appointment comes at a time of significant evolution in the aviation finance landscape. Historically, lessors like Willis Lease Finance have focused on acquiring assets for their own balance sheets and generating revenue through lease contracts. However, the industry is witnessing a broader strategic pivot as major players increasingly launch dedicated asset management arms.

This shift is driven by several factors. First, it allows companies to diversify their revenue streams beyond traditional lease income. By managing third-party capital, firms can generate stable, recurring revenue from management fees and performance-based fees, or carried interest. This model is less capital-intensive than direct ownership and offers a path to scalable growth.

Second, it opens the door to vast pools of institutional capital. Pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds are increasingly allocating capital to alternative assets like aviation in search of stable, long-term, and uncorrelated returns. An asset management platform provides the necessary structure and fiduciary oversight to attract and deploy this capital effectively.

Finally, this strategy can support balance sheet deleveraging. By using third-party funds to acquire assets, a company can continue to grow its overall asset and servicing portfolio without adding significant debt to its own corporate balance sheet. For a company like WLFC, which operates in a capital-intensive industry, this financial flexibility is a significant strategic advantage.

Willis Aviation Capital's Ambitious Mandate

Willis Aviation Capital (WAC) is the vehicle for this strategic pivot. Established to manage third-party capital through discretionary funds, WAC is not merely an exploratory venture but a well-funded platform with a clear mandate. The division has already secured substantial backing from major institutional players, including a $1 billion capital commitment from funds managed by Blackstone Credit & Insurance and up to $600 million from Liberty Mutual Investments. These early commitments represent a powerful vote of confidence in WLFC's platform and its potential as an asset manager.

The division will focus on acquiring and managing portfolios of commercial aircraft engines and other aviation assets. Crucially, WAC is designed to integrate seamlessly with and leverage WLFC’s extensive existing infrastructure. This creates a powerful synergy that few competitors can match. Investors in WAC funds gain exposure not just to the assets themselves, but to the entire Willis Lease Finance ecosystem, which includes:

• Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc.: A provider of end-of-life solutions and aviation materials.
• Willis Engine Repair Center® and Willis Aviation Services Limited: Part 145 certified maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities for engines and airframes.
• Willis Global Engine Testing: A joint venture for engine testing services.

This integrated model allows WAC to control costs, enhance asset value through maintenance and technical management, and optimize returns throughout an asset's lifecycle. By channeling more assets through its service businesses, WLFC aims to increase the volume and profitability of its entire operational platform. Bridgland's role will be central to articulating this unique value proposition to the global investment community, positioning WAC as more than a financial entity, but as a fully integrated aviation solutions partner.