Gerber Finance announced the completion of their CEO succession strategy, naming longtime President Jennifer Palmer as CEO with Founder Gerald Joseph transitioning to his new role as strategic advisor and Chairman of the Board.

Joseph founded Gerber Finance in 1995, emigrating from South Africa to the United States to build a finance company that would shift the paradigm from lender to partner by diving into each client’s business, developing trust, and working alongside their management to think differently about how to finance growth. This relationship-based approach set Gerber apart from the field, and still drives their business today. As Gerber embarks on its 25th anniversary year, the company is expanding the company’s New York operations, growing their California-based team, and opening doors to new industries that will benefit from their distinctive style of lending.

“When I founded Gerber, failure was not an option. That is part of what drives me and what drives many of our clients – entrepreneurs who will stop at nothing to see their businesses succeed. This is the spirit of Gerber Finance, and I can’t wait to see what the next 25 years hold under Jennifer’s leadership. I am convinced it will be terrific.”

Palmer, who began her career as an attorney, started at Gerber in 2006 in the marketing department, quickly moving into the position of Vice President of Marketing, then Senior Vice President thanks to her signature work ethic and appetite for learning. In 2013, she was appointed President and has since led the company through multiple years of growth as they have posted record wins.

“Being a part of Gerber’s growth and working alongside Gerald has been nothing short of magic,” said Palmer. “He has never been afraid of making bold decisions and has always done so with the deepest integrity. I am honored to take the reins of the company he built and look forward to continuing his legacy of diving deep and driving change.”

Founded in 1995, Gerber Finance is leading finance partner for companies experiencing accelerated growth. Operating on a mission of “Purpose, Potential, and Profit,” the company has grown to become the top commercial finance company for fast-growing companies across multiple industries and placed social responsibility at its core with the founding of the Gerber Finance Foundation in 2018.