Today, AutoFi, a digital retail pioneer making it easier to sell and buy vehicles, announced the addition of two key hires as the company experiences significant growth in 2021. Former TrueCar, Edmunds, and J.D. Power Executive Kerri Wise joins the company as Vice President of Marketing. And seasoned finance veteran Axel Oehlers joins the company as Vice President of Finance.
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Automotive industry veteran Kerri Wise is the new vice president of marketing for AutoFi, a digital retail pioneer making it easier to sell and buy vehicles. (Photo: Business Wire)
“I couldn’t be more excited to have Kerri and Axel join the team,” said AutoFi CEO Kevin Singerman. “We’re poised for explosive growth this year: At our current rate, hundreds of thousands of customers representing $10 billion in vehicle sales will come through the AutoFi platform at our dealer customers, and our lender network is on track to originate over a billion dollars in vehicle financing through the platform.
“Kerri is one of the most sought-after and respected voices in the industry,” Singerman continued. “She will elevate our vision and brand and ensure we continue to be a thought leader for our customers. And Axel brings years of experience in both Automotive SaaS and captive finance organizations. I am confident these two seasoned professionals will help position us for long-term success.”
“I have spent my entire career working to help the automotive industry harness the power of technology, data, and transparency to serve customers better and close more sales,” said Kerri Wise. “And that’s why I’m delighted to join the team at AutoFi. They’re helping dealerships across the country, and large enterprise clients use digital finance to dramatically improve customer satisfaction, sales, and profitability so that everyone wins.”
“Dealerships that empower their customers to finance their vehicle wherever they like—be it in the showroom floor or on their living room couch—are the dealerships that will win more business and profits,” said Axel Oehlers. “AutoFi is leading the way in helping dealers and consumers to finance cars completely online from start to finish. And I couldn’t be more excited about the work we have in front of us.”
More than two thousand dealers use AutoFi’s digital retail solution to fuel more vehicle sales at significantly higher margins by moving showroom, sales, and financing operations online. Through the platform, consumers can quickly secure credit approval and receive multiple competing offers from a network of the largest automotive lenders in North America.
AutoFi gives consumers the flexibility to select the down payment, interest rate, and payment terms that work best for them using an easy-to-use digital interface. Customers can receive cash offers for vehicle trade-ins through the platform. And they can choose any protection plans, services, and warranties they might want. The end of the process is not a paper printout with estimated payment terms; it’s a complete transaction with approved financing. Finally, customers can schedule vehicle pick-ups or home delivery.
About Kerri Wise
Kerri Wise is Vice President of Marketing at AutoFi. She is a 22 year veteran in automotive with deep experience leading marketing, training, and analytics geared to dealer and OEM clients. She is a frequently sought-after thought leader in the automotive industry and a regular speaker at major industry conferences and events.
In 2020, Kerri was named to Automotive News Top 100 Leading Women in North America. And in 2019, Wise was named an Auto Remarketing Top Women in Retail, an L.A. Biz Women of Influence, and was inducted into San Jose’s East Side Union High School District’s hall of fame.
Kerri is also the co-founder and President of Women of Color Automotive Network (WOCAN), a non-profit organization that seeks to improve diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry. Before joining AutoFi, Kerri worked at TrueCar, Edmunds, and J.D. Power. She was a collegiate basketball player and graduated with a B.S. in Marketing from California State University, Northridge.
About Axel Oehlers
Axel Oehlers is Vice President of Finance at AutoFi. For the last 23 years, he has been in leading capacities in Corporate Finance and Financial Services with a track record of driving business development, process improvement, and digital transformation.
Axel’s wide range of experience spans from leading early-stage to established companies’ finance departments as President/CFO, including mergers & acquisitions due diligence in a private equity owner exit. In the automotive space, he was the initial CFO at automotiveMastermind.
As President of a captive financial services company for capital goods, he managed close to $1 billion in total portfolio volume and had full operational responsibility for its securitization program. The industry publication Leasing Life awarded “Captive Finance Provider of the Year” to the Financial Services division.
Born and raised in Germany, Axel graduated from Stuttgart University FH with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management. He has been co-organizer and regularly participates in New York at the CFO Roundtable of German companies in the U.S. and is deputy speaker of The Economic Council New York Section (Wirtschaftsrat der CDU e.V.).
About AutoFi
AutoFi is a digital retail pioneer that makes it easy for dealerships to sell vehicles and for consumers to buy them. The company’s platform enables auto dealers to thrive in the new digital-first economy. Additionally, its suite of APIs offers Lending as a Service to enable transactions in any branded consumer purchase experience. The AutoFi network of lenders includes trusted names such as Chase Auto, Bank of America, Santander Consumer USA, and more. For more information, visit www.autofi.com.
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