The American Financial Services Association started the second half of the year by making it official. Celia Winslow is the trade group’s new president and chief executive officer.

Winslow succeeds Bill Himpler, who late last year announced plans to retire.

Winslow is not a stranger to the association, having served as its executive vice president, as well as its head of federal government affairs. All told, Winslow brings almost 20 years of experience to her new leadership position for AFSA.

“I am honored to lead AFSA in a time of both challenges and opportunities for our members in the consumer-lending and vehicle-finance marketplace, as well as the tens of millions of American consumers they serve,” said Winslow, who also was among the 2019 Women in Auto Finance honorees.

“I look forward to working with our talented team and continuing to advocate clear rules of the road for our industry and sound, appropriate protections for consumers,” she continued. “I am greatly appreciative of Bill Himpler’s leadership of our association, and his guidance and support over the past several years, and especially during this transition.”

Himpler, who will remain with the organization through the end of the year as a senior adviser, closes out more than two decades with AFSA. He joined the Association in 2004 as its head of federal government affairs and then as the organization’s senior leader in 2018.

“When I joined AFSA, I never thought it would be a 20-year run, but this is a special organization, with an amazing membership and a great team working on its behalf,” Himpler said. “It’s been an honor to lead AFSA, and I’m thrilled for Celia and the opportunities ahead for the organization under her leadership.”

AFSA was founded more than a century ago. Its members include traditional installment loan and auto-finance companies, as well as national and regional banks, credit card companies, and mortgage lenders.

Taken together, AFSA members arranged more than $200 billion in credit for consumers in the past year.

Credit Central CEO Dan Walters also serves AFSA’s chairman of the board.

“Bill Himpler worked tirelessly to grow our association in both size and influence during his tenure, and we are a much stronger organization as a result of his efforts,” Walters said.

“Celia’s proven leadership and ability in the public policy, legal and regulatory arenas, along with the respect she has earned across all segments of our industry, will be major assets for AFSA’s next chapter,” Walters went on to say.