Howard Freedland

Howard Freedland, CFA, has been vice chairman of LendingUSA since its inception. He is the CEO of Online Lending Partners which he formed in 2015. From 2012 to 2015, Howard was the chief strategist of Emerald Direct Lending Advisers which was an early investor in consumer lending platforms. He also continues to serve as the managing partner and chief investment officer of Harper Foster, a private family office.

Howard’s extensive operational background includes positions as chairman and CEO of National Water & Power, CEO of Open-C, and CFO of GE Capital-ResCom. His investment career began in 1973 as an analyst and later a portfolio manager for the St. Paul Companies’ mutual funds. He founded and was managing partner of September Investors, a hedge fund; September Venture Associates, an early-stage venture capital firm; and London Freedland, a boutique institutional brokerage firm and investment bank. Howard founded and managed Lido Capital, a strategic consulting and financial advisory firm specializing in the utility and telecommunications industries. He has been a member of numerous public and private boards of directors. Howard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. He taught finance at the University of Minnesota while studying for a doctorate in finance. Howard was awarded the designation Chartered Financial Analyst by the CFA Institute in 1978. He and his wife are extremely active in a wide range of charitable activities.