Experienced Executive to Oversee Octane’s Successful Powersports and OPE Business
NEW YORK, July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Octane® (Octane Lending, Inc.®), the fintech revolutionizing the buying experience for major recreational purchases, announced that it has appointed Steven Fernald as President. In this newly-created-role, Fernald will take over the day-to-day management of the company’s successful Powersports and Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) business in addition to his current responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer. He will continue to report to Jason Guss, CEO and Co-Founder of Octane.
Fernald is a talented executive with almost thirty years of leadership experience in the financial sector. Since joining Octane in 2019, Fernald established the company’s highly-successful securitization program, which has produced eleven asset-backed securitizations in excess of $3B and AAA ratings from Standard & Poor’s (S&P)* and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA)**. He also launched Octane’s forward-flow program in December 2023, beginning with an innovative transaction that was shortly followed by two more transactions this year. Additionally, under Fernald’s leadership, the company first became operating cash flow positive in 2020 and GAAP net income profitable in 2021. Previously, Fernald served as Managing Director at both Morgan Stanley and UBS Investment Bank, and as the Chief Financial Officer of a privately held, SaaS-based financial technology company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Utah and is a lifelong powersports enthusiast.
“Given our considerable success in Powersports, we are establishing the position of President to lead the business into its next phase of growth, and Steve is the ideal executive to take on this role,” said Guss. “By transitioning our core business into Steve’s capable hands, I can spend more time helping Octane to launch even more innovative products, enter new markets, and deliver on our long-term ambitions.”
“It’s been an honor to help Octane achieve such significant milestones during my tenure with the company and I’m excited to build on our momentum in the Powersports space,” said Fernald. “As I take on this new role, I’m especially looking forward to helping our dealer and OEM partners to grow their businesses with our fast, easy financing experience.”
Since its founding in 2014, Octane has originated over $4B in loans and expanded into Recreational Vehicles (RVs), tractors, trailers, and electric vehicles.
*The full analysis for S&P’s ratings, including any updates, which you should review and understand, is available on spglobal.com and can be accessed here.
**KBRA’s ratings are subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in the related report and KBRA’s website, which you should review and understand, and can be accessed here.
About Octane:
Octane® is revolutionizing recreational purchases by delivering a seamless, end-to-end digital buying experience. We connect people with their passions by combining cutting-edge technology and innovative risk strategies to make lifestyle purchases–like powersports vehicles, RVs, and outdoor power equipment–fast, easy, and accessible.
Octane adds value throughout the customer journey: inspiring enthusiasts with the Octane Media™ editorial brands, including Cycle World® and UTV Driver®, instantly prequalifying consumers for financing online, routing customers to dealerships for an easy closing, and supporting customers throughout their loan with superior loan servicing.
Founded in 2014, we’re a remote-first company with over 30 OEM and 4,000 dealer partners.
Visit www.octane.co.
Octane® and Roadrunner Financial® are registered service marks of Octane Lending, Inc.
Media Relations: Shannon O’Hara
VP of Communications & Brand at Octane
Press@octane.co
Investor Relations: Kartik Kothari
SVP of Corporate Development and Investor Relations at Octane
IR@octane.co
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SOURCE Octane
