Macquarie appoints Eli Appelbaum as Head of EMEA Lending and Asset Finance

Macquarie Specialised and Asset Finance (Macquarie), part of Macquarie Group’s Commodities and Global Markets business, today announced the appointment of Eli Appelbaum as Senior Managing Director and Head of EMEA Lending and Asset Finance. In this role, Mr Appelbaum will lead the business across the region, supporting the continued growth and development of the franchise.

Mr Appelbaum brings two decades of experience across asset based finance and alternative credit. He joins from Ares Management Corporation, where he established and led the Alternative Credit business in Europe, a tactical asset based finance strategy investing across the capital structure. Prior to Ares, he was a Partner at Hayfin Capital Management, overseeing asset backed investments for the firm’s direct lending and special opportunities strategies. Mr Appelbaum began his career at Gordon Brothers in Tokyo, building the Japanese distressed assets business before relocating to London to lead the European investment and finance practice.

Mr Appelbaum will report to Andrew Gee, Senior Managing Director, Head of Specialised and Asset Finance. Commenting on the appointment, Mr Gee said: "I am pleased to welcome Eli to the team as we continue to strengthen our capabilities and deliver disciplined growth. Eli’s expertise in alternative credit and proven track record in building successful franchises will scale our lending and asset finance activities across EMEA. His leadership will enhance our platform and ensure we remain well‑positioned to capture emerging opportunities across the region.”

Mr Appelbaum said: “I’m delighted to be joining and leading a highly capable team with a strong track record and deep asset expertise across key sectors such as digital infrastructure, technology, resources, and energy. I look forward to building on this success as we broaden our reach across EMEA and continue delivering innovative, high-quality financing solutions for our clients.”

Macquarie’s Lending and Asset Finance business in EMEA provides asset backed capital solutions across the capital structure, including debt, equity, leasing, and other capital solutions to clients across the region. The business has deep expertise supporting partners across next‑generation digital infrastructure, energy, transportation, natural resources, and other adjacent sectors. Recent transactions include strategic GPU financing partnerships with AI and cloud infrastructure companies Polarise and Fluidstack, supporting the advancement of AI infrastructure across EMEA.