MANCHESTER, NH – Glen Villano has joined Merchants Leasing in the newly created position of chief operating officer. Villano has experience in finance, sales, operations, and strategic planning, which he developed during more than 30 years of senior management responsibilities in the financial services and recreational products industries. He will report to Phil Ryan, Merchants CEO.

Villano began his career as a public accountant, followed by increasing responsibilities in sales, marketing, and finance with McGraw Edison, Citicorp, and Transamerica Finance. He spent 10 years with Harley-Davidson Financial Services gathering experience internationally and in the United States in strategy, sales, marketing, operations, quality, and finance. As COO, he led the project that established Harley-Davidson's Eaglemark Bank and played a key leadership role in the company's rapid and profitable growth.

Villano will be responsible for the day-to-day managing of Merchants Leasing sales and marketing, operations, and asset management and the company's niche van rental and short-term leasing solutions division.