MarkOne Holdings Unveils Expansion into Western US
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Along with bolstering its executive
team, MarkOne Holdings, a national automotive finance holding company already
operating through regional subsidiaries serving the East Coast and the Midwest,
broadened its scope this week so it can conduct lending operations in the West.
Officials launched a third operation — WestMark Auto Finance —
with plans to open a dealer service center near Los Angeles in November.
The company indicated WestMark Auto Finance will bring its "People
Buying People" approach for subprime and non-prime financing to both franchised
and independent dealers in California and Arizona.
WestMark anticipates expansion into Nevada, Washington and
Oregon within the next year.
"During recent years, MarkOne Holdings has invested heavily
in our people, technology, systems and infrastructure to ensure that we are
well positioned to serve and service our market growth," said Bruce Newmark, president
and chief executive officer of MarkOne Holdings.
"We are not new to this industry," Newmark emphasized. "MarkOne
Financial has been in business for over a decade, MarkOne Holdings since 2004
and Centrus Auto Finance since 2009.
More important is the knowledge and integrity of our leadership team,
which combined has more than 100 years of experience in the non-prime and
subprime arena."
Newmark went on to stress the launch of WestMark, in
conjunction with existing MarkOne Financial and Centrus Auto Finance, brings a
national scope and regional service model unique to the subprime and non-prime
lending landscape.
"MarkOne, Centrus and now WestMark provide the strength and
stability of a national lender, but with regionalized service and a better
understanding of local market conditions," he added. "Each company employs
regionalized operations and field staff that work and live in areas where its
dealers and customers do business."
MarkOne acknowledged that expansion and growth triggers the
need to bring in experienced leaders. As
a result, the company also announced several new personnel changes to help the
regional companies grow and be successful.
"The addition of experienced and talented new members to our
management team positions the company for greater growth," Newmark declared. "Our
team has some of the most exceptional leaders in the industry and they will
assist in the long-term development and execution of our growth and business
plans."
Kyle Musil joined Centrus Auto Finance as its new vice president
to oversee the growth and daily functions of Centrus' regional facility in
Dallas.
With Centrus' expansion into Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico
and Utah, the company insisted an experienced leader is critical.
Musil brings more than 18 years of finance and auto finance
experience. He most recently served as a dealer account manager and Western
regional manager for Westlake Financial Services.
WestMark Auto Finance hired Mike Opdahl as its new vice president
to oversee the initial launch, ongoing growth and daily functions of WestMark's
regional facility just outside Los Angeles.
Opdahl brings more than a decade of finance and auto finance
experience. He has held high-level positions with leading lenders such as
Westlake Financial Services, GE Capital and Tranex Credit Corp.
MarkOne Holdings is also seeing some personnel changes for
the company's national leadership team.
Joining MarkOne Holdings as chief financial officer is
Michael Pankey, who has more than 20 years of experience in the financial
services industry with more than 15 years in subprime auto sector.
The company said Pankey will provide corporate guidance on
capital markets, credit risk, treasury and strategic planning.
Pankey previously held the CFO position at Long Beach
Acceptance Corp. and most recently has been an adviser for several new and
well-established auto finance companies.
Meanwhile, Randy Spradlin, who has been with MarkOne Holdings
for more than three years, has been promoted to national sales director. The
company noted Spradlin will oversee the sales and marketing functions for all
three regional companies.
In addition to his leadership role at MarkOne, Spradlin has
also been in management with Westlake Financial Services and Automotive
Capital.
"From the leadership at our highest level to our
people-centric business model and front line staff, MarkOne Holdings and its
subsidiaries are doing business differently. It's our approach and integrity
that sets us apart from all other lenders," MarkOne Holdings senior vice president
Joe Gilberto emphasized.
"Doing business efficiently and intelligently also means
better programs for our dealers and a trust that we will continue to do
business this way for a very long time," Gilberto added.