Auto Finance News names 2026 auto finance award winners

Auto Finance News will present its 2026 Auto Finance Excellence Awards on Oct. 6 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas during Auto Finance Summit 2026. Honorees include Kyle Birch of GM Financial, Cox Automotive, Sixth Street and AmeriTrust Financial Technologies, with nine Rising Star awards added for the first time.

Why it matters: - The awards spotlight the executives and companies shaping auto lending, leasing and dealership finance. - The 2026 program also adds nine Rising Star awards for emerging leaders, expanding recognition across the industry.

What happened: - Auto Finance News is presenting the 2026 Auto Finance Excellence Awards on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 12:30 p.m. PT at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. - The ceremony is part of Auto Finance Summit 2026, which runs Oct. 5-7. - Kyle Birch, president of North America Operations at GM Financial, will receive the 2026 Leadership Award. - Cox Automotive and Sixth Street will receive Deal Execution Awards. - AmeriTrust Financial Technologies will receive the Community Service Award.

The details: - Birch is being recognized for more than 28 years with GM Financial and predecessor AmeriCredit Financial Services. - Birch is preparing to retire at the end of 2026. - Birch has helped shape GM Financial’s teams, capabilities and relationships with dealers and customers. - The Leadership Award honors industry leaders with outstanding performance, innovation and lasting impact in auto finance. - Cox Automotive is being recognized for its acquisition of AI-powered customer data platform Fullpath. - The Cox Automotive deal was valued at about $500 million. - The acquisition gives Cox Automotive Fullpath’s marketing automation technology and customer data for dealers. - Sixth Street is being recognized for its acquisition of Global Lending Services, or GLS. - The GLS deal gave Sixth Street ownership of an established auto lending platform that can generate billions of dollars in loans annually. - Before the acquisition, Sixth Street relied on purchasing auto receivables from third parties. - GLS had a $10.5 billion managed portfolio and about $9.8 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2025, according to KBRA. - The platform gives Sixth Street additional room to grow originations as the firm deploys capital into the business. - AmeriTrust Financial Technologies is being recognized for launching used vehicle leasing for military members through Military AutoSource. - The program expands vehicle financing and leasing access for members of the military community. - The 2026 awards are the first in the 21-year history of the program to include nine Rising Star awards. - The luncheon will be hosted by JJ Hornblass, CEO of Auto Finance News, and sponsored by Onbe.

Between the lines: - The honorees reflect two big themes in auto finance: dealmaking and distribution scale on one side, and service to specific customer groups on the other. - Adding Rising Star awards suggests Auto Finance News is broadening the spotlight from established leaders to the next generation. - The Sixth Street recognition underscores how ownership of a lending platform can change a firm’s position in the market, not just its financing mix.

What's next: - Birch will accept his award during the Auto Finance Excellence Awards Luncheon. - Auto Finance News will continue the awards program during Auto Finance Summit 2026 in Las Vegas. - More information is available on the Auto Finance Excellence Awards page.