David Burton founded Jefferson Capital in 2002 and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and on our board of directors since our inception. Prior to founding Jefferson Capital, Mr. Burton served as Group President of OSI Education Services, a subsidiary of leading accounts receivable management service provider Outsourcing Solutions, from 1996 to 2002. Mr. Burton entered the accounts receivable industry in 1992 when he joined A.M. Miller & Associates, eventually becoming its President and Chief Operating Officer and serving in such capacity from 1992 to 1996. Mr. Burton holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Law from the University of Michigan School of Business Administration. We believe Mr. Burton’s extensive experience in executive leadership positions and knowledge and experience in the accounts receivable industry make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Christopher Giles has served on our board of directors since 2018. In 2020, Mr. Giles founded Hyland Hill Investment Partners, a private credit-focused alternative credit investment firm, and has served as a partner since co-leading the firm’s investment activity. Prior to founding Hyland Hill, Mr. Giles was a partner at Total Card Funding I, a non-prime U.S. consumer credit card business, from 2017 to 2020. From 2002 to 2017, Mr. Giles worked at Värde Partners, a global investment manager specialized in consumer, residential, and commercial mortgage finance transactions, in various positions and most recently as Senior Managing Director. Prior to joining Värde, from 1994 to 2002 Mr. Giles traded distressed loans for The Credit Store, Inc., a consumer finance company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mr. Giles holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Connecticut. We believe Mr. Giles’ experience as a founder of an investment firm and his work in the consumer financial services industry make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Thomas Harding has served on our board of directors since 2018. Since 2015, Mr. Harding has served as Managing Director at J.C. Flowers, a private equity firm that focuses on investments in the financial services industry. Prior to joining J.C. Flowers, Mr. Harding worked in Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Financial Institutions Group from 2008 to 2015 where he covered a diverse range of bank, insurance and specialty finance companies. In addition to serving on our board of directors, Mr. Harding currently serves on the boards of Island Finance, iLending and Capital Funding Bancorp. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore College, a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School. We believe Mr. Harding’s broad knowledge and experience in the financial services industry make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Beth Leonard has served on our board of directors since 2024. Ms. Leonard has been a partner at EisnerAmper, a global accounting and consulting firm, and Partner-in-Charge of the Minnesota office since 2022. Prior to the merger with EisnerAmper in 2022, Ms. Leonard had been working at Lurie, LLP, a Minnesota-based accounting firm, since 1984 in various positions and for the last 15 years as Managing Partner. Ms. Leonard served on the board of directors for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants from 2021 to 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Accounting from the University of Minnesota — Carlson School of Management. We believe Ms. Leonard’s broad understanding of accounting and corporate finance matters and management experience make her well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Thomas Lydon, Jr. has served on our board of directors since 2021. Mr. Lydon has served as a Vice President at J.C. Flowers since 2023, where he has been working since 2017. Prior to joining J.C. Flowers, Mr. Lydon worked in Credit Suisse’s Financial Institutions Group from 2015 to 2017. In addition to serving on our board of directors, Mr. Lydon currently serves on the board of TRICOR Insurance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia. We believe Mr. Lydon’s industry experience and financial expertise make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
John Oros has served on our board of directors since 2017. Now a Senior Advisor, Mr. Oros has served at J.C. Flowers as Operating Partner from 2018 to 2023 and as Managing Director from 2000 to 2018. Before joining J.C. Flowers, Mr. Oros held a number of executive positions at Enstar Group Limited, including the role of Executive Chairman from 2000 to 2011. Prior to joining Enstar, Mr. Oros worked in Goldman Sachs’ Financial Institutions Group from 1980 to 2000, where he became a General Partner in 1986. In addition to serving on our board of directors, Mr. Oros currently serves on the boards of Island Finance, National Guardian Life Insurance Company, iLending and TRICOR Insurance. Mr. Oros holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin School of Business. We believe Mr. Oros’ extensive experience in executive leadership positions and knowledge of the financial services industry make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Ronald Vaske has served on our board of directors since 2016. Ronald Vaske has been a partner at the law firm Ballard Spahr LLP with a specialty in financial institutions and Fintechs, since 2018. Prior to joining Ballard Spahr, Mr. Vaske practiced at the law firm Lindquist & Vennum LLP from 1998 to 2018. Ron holds a Bachelor of Science from South Dakota State University and a Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law. We believe Mr. Vaske’s industry and extensive legal knowledge make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.