CLEARWATER, Fla. -

Platinum Auto Finance recently bolstered its executive team with a leader who possesses a wide range of professional experience with smaller and large providers.

David Knightly joined Platinum Auto Finance as senior vice president of operations and national sales director, reporting directly to chief operating officer Scott Long.

In this role, Knightly will support major strategic operational initiatives and work to continue to execute on the strategic sales and partnership initiatives.

Knightly arrived at Platinum Auto Finance with an extensive and impressive background in sales, marketing and operations in the automotive financial space. He entered the auto sector with Onyx Acceptance Corp. where he gained valuable experiences in sales, service and management.

Knightly then served as a regional sales manager for Capital One Auto Finance. He has spent time at Southern Auto Finance as a national sales manager and Gateway One as regional sales manager.

Knightly also spent several years at Exeter Finance Corp. as vice president of branch operations and sales. His position required a high-level of strategic vision to fuel responsible loan growth in a highly competitive market; experience that is proving to be invaluable for Platinum Auto Finance.

Most recently, Knightly was vice president of sales and marketing at Innovate Auto Finance.

Platinum Auto Finance chief executive officer Michael Kaplanis expressed how pleased the company is with the hiring of Knightly, acknowledging the great addition he makes to Platinum’s team.

“Since Scott first introduced me to David, I’ve been extremely impressed by his professionalism, extraordinary depth of knowledge on the auto finance sector, and his fresh perspectives about where this industry is heading,” Kaplanis said,

“His hiring is a bold move for Platinum and a bold move for David,” Kaplanis continued. “That is what we are about here — executing bold moves to execute our shared vision for the future and developing the preeminent platform in the automobile finance sector.”

Knightly also shared his thoughts on joining the Platinum team.

“When considering the opportunity to work at Platinum, it became abundantly clear that the team I wanted to work with was here,” he said. “This is the place that had the most potential to display greatness in the future and would challenge me to take myself to new levels. I could not be more excited to call this my new home.”

Long highlighted that Knightly has had an immediately positive impact on Platinum Auto Finance. Knightly is actively overseeing the implementation of Platinum’s Triple P Partnership program for its dealer base.

“While others in the industry harp about competition, Platinum Auto Finance is focused on putting forward our value proposition to independent and family owned franchise dealers,” Long said. “We believe in our mission of providing consultative, relationship-based lending services to our dealer partners because this will make a difference, one loan at a time.”