Santander Alternative Investments (Sai), Santander’s alternatives investment arm, has appointed Damien Granger to lead asset-based finance investments as it prepares a European-focused fund targeting €400m–€500m.
Granger joins from Flexam – Kartesia Asset Finance, where he was partner and head of investments. His hire comes as Santander expands the strategy ahead of a mid-April first close, with over €150m already committed by institutional investors including insurers, the European Investment Fund and Spanish banking group Banco Santander.
The fund will target corporate financing backed by tangible assets—aircraft, vessels, trains, trucks and other transport equipment—across Europe, offering asset-backed credit exposure to industrial and transportation assets. Gonzalo Colino will continue supporting platform development.
Borja Díaz-Llanos, chief investment officer of Sai, said: “Asset-based finance represents a growing opportunity within alternative credit. Damien’s experience in investing in transport assets and other asset-backed transactions in Europe will be key to scaling this strategy further and expanding our investment platform.”
Granger has over 15 years’ experience in asset and structured finance. He joined Société Générale in 2009 in General Inspection, moved to Treasury in 2014, and later became director of asset finance, focusing on aviation, maritime and rail, before joining Flexam–Kartesia Asset Finance in 2021. He holds an engineering degree from École Centrale de Lyon and graduated from HEC Paris.
Sai’s planned vehicle will target opportunities across transportation and industrial sectors, aiming to provide secured financing supported by physical collateral.