COLUMBUS, Ohio — Huntington announced this morning that thanks to the state's improving economic recovery, the company is significantly expanding its Michigan auto dealer financing business and will add key personnel to support this move.

"With Michigan's continuing economic recovery, we expect the state to remain a robust market for us," explained Richard Porrello, director of Huntington's auto finance business.

"New- and used-car sales have risen significantly in Michigan, and auto dealers need the consistent and supportive financing options that Huntington delivers," he added.

To support the expansion, Huntington said it will hire professionals in Michigan to manage the expected increase in sales and underwriting.

In fact, Brad Norman recently joined Huntington as the Michigan regional manager for the auto finance business.

He previously spent 30 years with Chrysler Financial Services, where he was responsible for building and managing the company's largest business center that was focused on indirect retail auto loans and dealer commercial loans.

In his most recent position, he was director of financial services for Block Imaging International in Lansing, Mich.

According to Porrello, Huntington's track record of consistent underwriting and superior customer service helped the company ramp up its market share last year in many of the states where it does business.

The company boasted that it currently ranks No. 1 in market share for dealer financing in Ohio and Kentucky, citing AutoCount Data.

Huntington offers new and used auto financing and dealer services throughout the Midwest, serving Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the New England area.