LOS ANGELES — Westlake Financial Services has announced plans to open a new production center in Dallas in January 2015. The finance company also expanded its senior executive team.

The new production center will provide improved servicing for current dealerships as well as help the finance source increase its dealer network in the Texas market.

"The formation of this production center will permit Westlake to increase its number of dealer account managers and fortify our national brand, while increasing support for our dealer partners," stated Mark Vazquez, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Westlake Financial Services. "Comparable to our U.S. headquarters in California, the Texas location will house an incredible amount of brilliant dealership and auto finance personnel who will support our franchise and independent dealer partners. This new production center will encourage growth of Westlake dealers with our full spectrum programs.”

With the opening of the new location, Westlake will employ more than 30 new staffers at the production center. In December 2014, Westlake will begin the hiring process for the new positions, which include dealer account managers, an internal sales team and supervisor roles. 

With Westlake’s growth, the company has brought on Casey Harmon as the new senior vice president of corporate development. Harmon will be responsible for developing new strategic partnerships and promoting internal efficiency.

“We brought Casey Harmon on to our senior executive team to forge more partnerships and increase our coverage,” said Ian Anderson, group president of Westlake Financial Holdings. “Currently, our companies are at $2.1 billion in total receivables, and our target is to grow 20% year over year.  The addition of Casey Harmon will help us achieve our goals.”

Harmon brings with him more than 10 years of experience from Toyota Financial Services, where he most recently the national manager of dealer services and sales. In addition, Harmon has worked at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., where he managed relationships with a network of portfolio dealers. 

"I have long admired Westlake as one of the most dynamic forces in automotive finance,” Harmon said.  “I am excited to join the company and contribute to its future growth."