LEADERSHIP
Our greatest strength.
One of GLS’ greatest strengths is its highly experienced and tenured senior leadership team. Comprised of financial services and automotive industry expertise, the executive team shares a “do the right thing” management style that sets the tone for the company and its unique culture. As a highly entrepreneurial, tech-driven company, leadership and employees are driven to perform and innovate with integrity and humility.
Steve Thibodeau
CEO
Steve serves as CEO and is a member of the company’s Board of Directors. As CEO, Steve has built GLS into one of the largest, privately held auto finance companies and seven-time winner of INC magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies. Steve has more than 22 years’ experience in the industry and is a pioneer in leveraging advanced analytics and technology to revolutionize the auto finance industry. Prior to GLS, Steve was the Managing Vice President for Capital One for 14 years, where he helped build Capital One’s auto finance business into one of the largest and most innovative companies in the market. Steve holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as BS and MS degrees in engineering from the University of Massachusetts. Steve has proudly served our country and is a retired captain of the U.S. Army.
Mark McCall
Financial Officer
Mark McCall joined GLS in 2012 and has more than 30 years of experience in financial services, investment banking, and auto finance. He has built the financial, legal, compliance, and audit teams and infrastructures at GLS from start-up phase to maturity in his 10 years with the company. He also built the company’s innovative, low-cost capital-raising program to support GLS’ growth while driving profitability. Prior to joining GLS, Mark held senior leadership positions at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Wachovia Securities, Bank of America Securities, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. Mark raised capital and provided advisory services for specialty finance companies. Mark earned an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Kristen Miller
General Counsel
Kristen joined GLS in 2017 as General Counsel. She oversees the company’s legal, quality assurance and compliance functions and has more than a dozen years of experience in the financial services industry with a concentration in creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation. Kristen serves as the Chair of AFSA’s diversity, equity and inclusion working group and vice chair of AFSA’s emerging issues law sub-committee. Prior to joining GLS, Kristen was a partner at Poyner Spruill LLP, a regional law firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. She holds a doctor of jurisprudence from Wake Forest University School of Law and a bachelor of arts in political science and sociology from Miami University.
Kathleen Wright
Talent Officer
With close to 20 years of human resources experience – and 15 in the auto/finance industries -- Kathleen is responsible for all human resources operations, including talent acquisition, training, development and back-office support. She has helped grow GLS from 50 employees to over 930 in nine years. Before joining GLS in 2012, Kathleen held progressive HR roles with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System and Canal Insurance Company. She served two local school districts before teaming up with an independent investor as co-founder and director of Palmetto International Preparatory School. Kathleen received her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of South Carolina Upstate.
Thomas Hancock
Credit Officer
Thomas oversees credit, pricing, and decision science at GLS and is a key architect for GLS’ automated decisioning engine. He was one of GLS’ founding members and has more than 14 years of financial services, specialty finance, and analytics experience. During his tenure at GLS, he also has held roles in treasury and capital markets, and financial planning and analysis. Prior to GLS, Thomas worked at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey as an investment banker in the Financial Services and Technology Group supporting capital raising and M&A transactions. Thomas has a bachelor of business administration in finance and accounting from Emory University.
Dennis Morris
Operating Officer
Dennis leads the sales and originations teams at GLS. He joined the company in 2015. Dennis has had a distinguished career in auto finance for more than 30 years, growing profitable organizations and building highly effective teams. Prior to GLS, Dennis was Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer for CarFinance Capital. He also has held executive positions at Fireside Bank, Triad Financial, Household Automotive Finance Corporation, and WFS Financial. Dennis graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor of science in business administration.
Andy Clements
Servicing Officer
Andy leads GLS’ customer service operations ensuring our customers are supported throughout the life of their account. Andy joined GLS in 2014 and spent the first few years in IT, where he led the build out of many of the systems GLS still uses today. Andy has more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, including 13 years at Capital One, where he was responsible for the creation and maintenance of data environments to support the business. He earned his bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Virginia.
Carl Williams
Information Officer
Carl Williams joined GLS in 2023 to lead the Information Technology team. With over 25 years of IT experience, Carl spent 13 years at Capital One where he was instrumental in developing and supporting many of the core auto finance systems across Decisioning, Originations, Servicing and Treasury. Prior to GLS, Carl was the CTO and CIO for Stova/MeetingPlay where he built the technology and IT teams that were eventually acquired by a growth private equity group, and then acquired and integrated two additional companies. Carl earned his bachelor of business administration from Belmont University.