HOUSTON — F&I product provider GSFSGroup announced the appointment of Jeff M. Parent as president. He succeeds Steve Amos, who is retiring after a nine years as president.

Under Amos’ leadership, GSFSGroup became a nationwide provider of all five participation structures to dealers. He also championed the launch of the company’s econtracting initiative and Dealer Executive Dashboard, an online data solution designed to help the company’s dealer clients maximize profitability.

In Parent, who officially assumed his new post on Feb. 1, GSFSGroup gets a 26-year veteran of the automotive business. He’s held executive management positions at VW Group, including director of sales and marketing for VW Credit Inc., and director of sales operations and regional vice president for the Volkswagen Brand. In 2007, he moved to Nissan Canada, where he served as vice president of sales and marketing.

In 2010, Parent joined the Friedkin Group as vice president of strategy and planning. His most recent assignment was senior vice president and assistant manager of Gulf States Toyota, where he oversaw the company’s marketing and supply chain. He also serves on the board of directors for GS Marketing.

“I am honored to serve as the new president of GSFSGroup,” Parent said in the company’s press release. “My focus is to continue to grow and transform GSFSGroup by utilizing the emerging technologies shaping today’s automotive industry to drive F&I product sales and awareness for our dealers.”