Buckeye Dealership Consulting reinforced its management team again this week, hiring a chief operating officer and new business development manager.

Coming aboard as COO of the provider of reinsurable products for dealers and finance companies is James O’Connell, who will work with the CEO and executive team to serve Buckeye’s growing customer base.

“Jim has a wealth of experience in the F&I and warranty administration space over the course of his career in this business,” Buckeye CEO Robert Fox Sr. said in a news release. “His knowledge and ability to build and improve data-based systems will be a significant value add to our company and clients, present and future. We look forward to Jim helping Buckeye continue to excel.”

O’Connell brings nearly 20 years of experience to the position, recently serving as the chief financial officer of Resources Management Group and Global Administrators. He was instrumental in the financial operations of the companies achieve strategic growth initiatives and deliver custom reinsurance solutions for their clients.

“I am honored to be part of the Buckeye family of staff, customers, and partners,” O’Connell said. “I have known Rob Fox for a long time and have admired the influence Buckeye has had on the marketplace. I look forward to working together as we help our customers realize the opportunities available to them through our suite of products and services.”

Buckeye has also added a new business development manager to its national sales staff. The company highlighted Martin Gutierrez joins Buckeye with vast experience from all angles of the buy-here, pay-here industry.

“Martin adds a unique perspective to our team,” said Buckeye national sales manager Bill Elizondo, who joined the company in March. “Martin is one of a few who can sit down with dealers and relate to what they experience day by day, because he has lived it. That perspective will be invaluable as we aim to serve our clients’ needs.”

Gutierrez began his journey in the subprime auto industry working with a specialty finance company providing lines of credit to BHPH dealerships. He managed borrowing bases and eventually advanced to business development, where he underwrote dealer portfolios for multimillion-dollar lines of credit.

That experience led Gutierrez to begin operating his own BHPH dealership in Arlington, Texas, discovering the value of a customizable dealer owned reinsurance program.

Along with previously adding Elizondo, David Wiggins joined Buckeye as a senior advisor to the executive management team in February.