LeaseTrading.com Appoints New COO
LeaseTrading.com announced that it has appointed Dev Bhatia as its chief operating officer.
LeaseTrading.com says it helps drivers get out of their leases, without paying an early termination penalty, by connecting them with buyers who are looking for great deals on short-term leases. The company says it facilitates the lease transfer process with its support and proprietary "E-File" platform.
"We're at the forefront of a rapidly growing industry," said LeaseTrading.com CEO Michael Penfield. "Our own expanding business operations required us to bring in a seasoned executive who has been here before, and can take us to the next level."
Bhatia, who becomes the Company's first COO, was previously chairman and CEO of HotSocket, a venture-backed Internet software and services company where he raised more than $24 million from investors including Goldman Sachs, Highland Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Zero Stage Capital. Prior to that, he was vice president of brand management at Yoyodyne, Inc., before its acquisition by Yahoo! in 1998.
Bhatia previously developed strategy, wrote business plans, and raised initial funding for ScreamingMedia Inc., which went public in August of 2000.
"Dev's experience in setting start-ups on the right course and building them into scaled businesses is exactly what we were looking for," said Ken Miller, LeaseTrading.com's chairman. Miller was most recently a director of Viacom Inc. He is the former vice chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston. Prior, he served as president and CEO of The Lodestar Group, an investment firm.
According to the company, industry experts project that auto lease transfers will become a billion- dollar marketplace over the next five years, as more consumers become aware of the marketplace and its potential to save them thousands of dollars in exiting a car lease. Currently, more than 17 million U.S. consumers drive leased cars -- one out of every three cars driven off the lot. More than 25 percent say they would exit their leases -- if not for the termination fees.
About LeaseTrading Inc.
LeaseTrading.com says it is America's marketplace for car lease transfers. LeaseTrading.com is a privately-held Delaware corporation, with offices in California and Connecticut. For more information, contact Shirley Braginton, at info@leasetrading.com or call toll free at 1-888-280-9009.
More F&I
Integrating Nontraditional F&I Products
The niche presents a strategic advantage for auto dealerships as they move to adapt to fast-changing consumer expectations in today’s market.
Read More →
Trust Is Personal
Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.
Read More →
Amplify 2026 Billed as Turning Innovation Into Results
Reynolds and Reynolds says its annual retail summit will connect dealers with practical strategies, peer insight, and technology-driven ideas.
Read More →
Own Your Outcome: F&I in the Digital Customer Journey
Finance has historically been the last step in the car-buying process, but it doesn’t have to be. The customer’s journey starts long before they arrive at the dealership, and so should F&I’s involvement.
Read More →
Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums
As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.
Read More →
Smaller Loans, Longer Terms
The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.
Read More →
New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic
EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.
Read More →
The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales
There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.
Read More →
Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You
Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.
Read More →
Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity
A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.
Read More →