Listen to this articleEvan Wilkoff is an accomplished professional with a wealth of asset-backed and structured finance expertise. Throughout his career, Evan has excelled in various roles, including lending, modeling, origination, treasury management, and consulting services. His remarkable leadership skills and ability to develop profitable businesses and platforms have cemented his reputation as a competent and sought-after industry leader.
From 2010 to 2021, Evan served as the Executive Vice President of Ascentium Capital LLC, where he significantly impacted the company’s capital markets and treasury activities. Recruited to join the executive management team, Evan was soon overseeing all aspects of the company’s funding strategy.
Under his guidance, Ascentium implemented a highly diversified funding approach, incorporating a robust asset-backed security issuance program, multiple credit facilities from prominent money-center banks, and various syndication sources. Evan’s leadership helped the company achieve exceptional growth, with origination volumes surpassing $2 billion in less than five years and $8 billion in a decade.
As the driving force behind Ascentium’s asset-backed securities issuance program, Evan interacted with rating agencies, investors, underwriters, securities counsel, and other key stakeholders. He single-handedly built the program from the ground up, successfully overseeing the issuance of $3.4 billion across 12 transactions. Evan’s expertise also extended to portfolio sales, where he executed efficient transactions totaling $1.4 billion with 57 purchasers, generating impressive gains of over 5%. Additionally, he established and managed an offshore reinsurance company that delivered significant net underwriting profits through Ascentium’s automatic insurance product in collaboration with its insurance partner.
Before joining Ascentium, Evan was the Director of Commercial Asset Finance at Wells Fargo Securities, substantially contributing to the company’s growth. Evan’s team tripled annual revenues during his tenure, achieving remarkable growth to $14 million in just three years. He also played a pivotal role in mentoring and developing junior bankers, helping them secure new positions during the Wachovia-Wells Fargo transition.
Evan holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from The University of Virginia, providing him with a strong foundation for his multifaceted career in finance. His expertise extends beyond his tenure at Ascentium and Wells Fargo Securities. Evan’s diverse experience includes serving as the Vice President and Treasurer of CoActiv Capital Partners, Inc., LLC, where he skillfully managed bank relationships with multiple lenders, negotiated and oversaw senior warehouse lines, and developed a syndication strategy to maintain targeted portfolio concentrations.
Additionally, Evan co-founded Cavalier Funding, LLC, a successful equipment leasing company, where he built a small yet full-service specialty finance company from scratch. During this time, he leveraged his expertise to develop a proprietary pricing model incorporating credit risk, residual value, and tax considerations to maximize profits while minimizing risk. Recognizing the company’s potential, Evan and his business partner made the strategic decision to sell Cavalier Funding to another leasing company, enabling them to pursue new and exciting opportunities in the industry.
Evan’s unwavering dedication, strategic insight, and extensive experience in asset-backed and structured finance make him a respected professional in his field. He is now a highly sought-after independent consultant with a proven track record of success.
We recently had an opportunity to speak to Evan Wilkoff, and he was able to share his insights with our audience.
Q: What criteria do you use to decide what to do yourself and what to delegate to others?
A: As a senior leader, the decision to handle or delegate a task to others depends on several factors. While each situation is unique, it is essential to surround oneself with a team of subject matter experts that can be relied upon to manage tasks effectively. A capable and stable team allows senior leaders to delegate responsibilities and maximize efficiency while remaining available for more critical or strategic tasks.
Delegating tasks to capable team members frees up time and resources and promotes team development and growth. It allows team members to take ownership of tasks, develop their skills, and increase their sense of accountability and responsibility.
However, effective delegation requires clear communication, establishing expectations, and providing support and resources to ensure success. It is also essential to periodically review progress and provide feedback to team members to ensure the delegated tasks align with overall goals and objectives.
Q: How do you manage the stress of all the things you cannot complete?
A: I rarely experience such stress as I prioritize understanding realistic timeframes before embarking on a project. However, in cases where outstanding projects have associated time pressures, I have always put in the extra effort, including working late nights and weekends, to ensure that I meet the required deadlines. This approach allows me to manage my workload effectively while delivering quality outcomes within the expected timeframe.
