C Jeffrey Knittel

C. Jeffrey (Jeff) Knittel is President of Transportation Finance, a $14 billion diversified organization that provides financing solutions for the aerospace and rail industries, including commercial airlines, business aircraft operators, aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers, railroads and shippers. Knittel is responsible for the management of four groups: Commercial Airlines, comprising more than 300 aircraft operated by more than 100 customers in 53 countries, as well as aircraft-backed debt (in addition, CIT has over 125 aircraft on order, with a retail value of over $8 billion); Business Aircraft, which includes more than $800 million worth of whole and fractional business aircraft finance assets; Aerospace and Defense Finance, which was recently formed to provide financing solutions to aerospace and defense manufacturers, distributors and suppliers; and CIT Rail, one of the youngest major fleets, with over 100,000 cars and more than 500 locomotives, and $4.5 billion in managed assets. With more than 25 years of experience in transportation finance, Knittel began his career with the Cessna Finance Company and later joined Manufacturers Hanover Leasing Corporation. In 1986, he transferred to the CIT Group/Capital Finance division where he held several senior management positions. Knittel serves as Chairman of the Board of Just One Break, a not-for-profit institution for the disabled founded by Eleanor Roosevelt, and as a member of the Board of Abilities. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Wings Club, the President's Advisory Board at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Senior Appraiser of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Traders (ISTAT). A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he received a BA in Aviation Management, Knittel also attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business Advanced Management Program.