Gottwald Exits, Huisman Joins HSBC Auto

Donald Gottwald, executive vice president of dealer business and group director of product management, marketing, and sales, is among the executives who have left HSBC Auto Finance as it winds down operations.

Parent company HSBC Group Holdings announced in August that it would shutter its San Diego-based nonprime lending unit.

Gottwald was with the company for almost three years. Prior to joining HSBC Auto in December 2005, he spent seven years at GMAC LLC. During his tenure, Gottwald served as executive vice president of private label financial services for NuVell Financial Services, heading up Saab Financial Services and American Suzuki Financial Services Corp. He served as chairman of the American Financial Services Association’s vehicle finance division from 2005 through February 2008.

Meanwhile, HSBC Auto hired Brent Huisman as vice president and director of remarketing. He replaced Jerry Kroshus, who became president of PAR North America in August.

Huisman was formerly vice president of sales and client services for Delray Beach, Fla.-based remarketing firm FLD. He has more than 10 years of experience with asset disposal, auction operations, and third-party servicing.

HSBC expects 80% of its $12.5 billion auto portfolio to run off in the next three years.

—Marcie Belles