As announced in June 2022, the current Secretary General, Mr. Peter Mulroy, is set to retire on 29 February 2024. FCI has confirmed that Mr. Neal Harm will be taking over the role.

Mr. Harm, originally from the United States, comes to FCI from his previous position at Fintainium, where he held the role of Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director at CIT Commercial Services, where he was in charge of strategy, business development, and project management. 

He has also had various roles at BB&T, including Director of International Banking Services, President of the Factoring Division, and Chief Operating Officer of the Commercial Finance business. 

His extensive organisational skills have been applied in managing and structuring a wide range of Commercial Finance operations, including ABL, Factoring, and Supply Chain Finance. 

Mr. Harm possesses significant expertise in both Domestic and International Factoring and has also held various roles in factoring at GMAC Commercial Finance and Bank of America.

He was a member of the FCI Business and IT Committee (ComCom) between 2006 and 2012, serving as its Chairman from 2008 to 2012. He played a key role in the initial transition of the Edifactoring platform to its current host, Centric, in 2009. Additionally, he was part of the FCI Executive Committee from 2013 to 2017, including a term as Vice Chairman.

The Secretary General, based at the Permanent Secretariat in Amsterdam, is chiefly responsible for ensuring that FCI meets its goals and carries out the decisions made by the Executive Committee. 

The role involves overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organisation, maintaining effective relationships with members and institutions, and ensuring financial stability. 

A primary focus will be on expanding the factoring and receivables finance business into new markets by attracting new members and introducing solutions to facilitate international trade through receivables finance services.

Mr. Harm will officially assume the role of Deputy Secretary General on 1 November and will move to the Netherlands for training under Mr. Mulroy for the subsequent four months. He will be elevated to the position of FCI Secretary General on 1 March 2024. 

Mr. Harm will be introduced to the members at the forthcoming FCI 55th Annual Meeting in Marrakech, taking place from 29 October to 2 November 2023.

Peter Mulroy, Secretary General, said, “I am delighted to see Neal as my successor. Neal has tremendous experience in factoring, receivables and supply chain finance, including in the realm of technology. He has a long history in FCI serving on various committees, has maintained his relationships with many members around the world, and has the executive management experience and strategic foresight to help lead the chain to new heights. I wish him the best of luck when he takes over the reins of the association in 2024.”

Daniela Bonzanini, Chairman, said, “I have known Neal for many years, we had the opportunity to work together on the Executive Committee level and I always appreciated his honesty, candour, transparency and his commitment to FCI. Based on his vast experience, innovative approach, and his professional life in factoring and SCF, I expect him to excel in his new role and take FCI to another level.”