American Financial Services Association Formalizes New Leadership

Trade Group Completes Transition to New President/CEO

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Financial Services Association, the nation's oldest trade association solely focused on the consumer credit industry, today formally handed the reins of leadership to Celia Winslow as the trade group's President and Chief Executive Officer. Winslow succeeds Bill Himpler, who announced plans to retire in late 2024.

Winslow brings almost twenty years of leadership experience with AFSA, having served as its Executive Vice President, as well as its head of federal government affairs. In that time, she has been a leading voice for the consumer credit industry and its customers on Capitol Hill and with federal regulators.

"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," Winslow said. "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. 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."

AFSA was founded more than a century ago. Its members include traditional installment loan and vehicle-finance companies, as well as national and regional banks, credit card companies, and mortgage lenders. Taken together Association members originated more than $2oo billion for consumers in the past year.

"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," said AFSA Chairman of the Board, Dan Walters, CEO of Credit Central. "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."

Himpler, who will remain with the organization through 2025 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 trade's senior leader in 2018. "When I joined AFSA, I never thought it would be a twenty-year run, but this is a special organization, with an amazing membership and a great team working on its behalf. It's been an honor to lead AFSA, and I'm thrilled for Celia and the opportunities ahead for the organization under her leadership."

About American Financial Services Association (AFSA):

Founded in 1916, the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) is the primary trade association for the consumer credit industry, protecting access to credit and consumer choice. AFSA provides the consumer credit industry and the consumers it serves with a voice in Washington, D.C. and state capitols across the United States, and to the media and investment community. It also provides policy advice and issues management at both the federal and state level. To learn more about AFSA, go to https://afsaonline.org/.  

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SOURCE American Financial Services Association