Encina Lender Finance expanded its investment team with the addition of two structured credit industry veterans.  The new hires – Ashish Sinha (Managing Director) and Avi Azour (Principal) – report directly to Geoff Beard (ELF’s CEO & CIO) and are responsible for sourcing, underwriting and executing senior credit facilities and forward flow purchase programs for both emerging and established specialty finance companies.  In addition, the company announced that it hired Dennis Murphy as Controller, reporting to Joe Ressa (ELF’s CFO & COO).

Sinha joined ELF in November 2024 as Managing Director - Investments. He served most recently as a senior investment professional at Elliott Investment Management, where he focused on structured credit and asset-backed investments in the consumer, residential real estate and esoteric asset classes.  Previously, Sinha held positions of increasing responsibility at Waterfall Asset Management, Oak Hill Advisors, PIMCO and Goldman Sachs.

Azour joined ELF in December 2024 as Principal - Investments. He worked most recently at Architect Capital as a Principal on the investment team with a primary focus on asset-backed credit investments for consumer specialty finance companies. Previously, Azour held positions of increasing responsibility at i80 Group and Credit Suisse’s Securitized Products Finance Group, where he executed asset-backed transactions in the consumer, aviation leasing, esoteric, residential real estate and commercial real estate asset classes.

Murphy joined ELF in November 2024 as Controller.  He served most recently as Controller at Aduro Advisors, a fund administrator. Previously, Murphy held positions of increasing responsibility at State Street Corporation and PwC, where he focused primarily on fund accounting and external audit work.