GM Financial President of North America Operations Kyle Birch is retiring at the end of the year after more than 28 years with the company.
The company has chosen Jonas Hollandsworth, executive vice president and chief operating officer of North America, to succeed Birch beginning in September, according to an internal memo from Chief Executive Susan Sheffield shared with Auto Finance News.
Birch has been in the role since February 2018 and previously was COO and executive vice president of GM Financial North America. His tenure with the captive spans nearly 16 years, and he was with GM Financial’s legacy company, AmeriCredit Financial Services, for 13 years.
Birch oversees the development of lease programs, manages credit underwriting and analyzes finance trends, according to his LinkedIn profile. He will remain with the company in an advisory capacity through yearend to assist with the leadership transition, according to Sheffield.
Birch to receive 2026 leadership award
Birch has been integral in shaping GM Financial’s teams, capabilities and relationships dating back to its formative years, Sheffield said in the memo.
“His leadership, including his stewardship of the company’s digital and marketing efforts, has been central to strengthening the relationship and collaboration between GM and our dealers and customers, and that legacy will continue to benefit the enterprise for years to come,” she said.
For his contributions, Birch has been named the 2026 recipient of the Auto Finance Excellence Award for leadership. The annual excellence awards honor companies and industry leaders who exemplify strong performance, innovation and community service within the industry.
Birch will accept the award during Auto Finance Summit 2026, which returns Oct. 5-7 at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.
GM Financial was the second-largest auto lender by outstandings at yearend 2025, according to the latest Big Wheels ranking data. In the second quarter, the captive’s loan and lease originations totaled $14.1 billion, down 5.4% year over year but up 14.6% quarter over quarter. Its portfolio stood at $109 billion, down 1.8% YoY.
Auto Finance Summit, the premier industry event for auto lending and leasing, returns October 5-7 at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, featuring executive insights from institutions including Chase Auto, Carvana, Capital One, Hyundai Capital America and Wells Fargo. To learn more about the 2026 event and register for early-bird pricing through Aug. 21, visit www.AutoFinance.live/AFS.
