AAqua Finance provides financing solutions that help dealers sell products by offering customer loans and credit programs. Its core offering is accounts receivable financing for a network of dealers, funding customers’ purchases and handling repayments over time while dealers manage cash flow. It expanded into financing for home improvement, HVAC, and recreational products, differentiating itself with a specialized dealer network and a focus on home-related durable goods supported by technology and capital backing. Its goal is to help dealers grow by expanding financing options and streamlining lending processes so more customers can finance purchases.
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Industries
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Wausau, Wisconsin
Founded
1985
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Aqua Finance, a consumer lending platform within Apollo's origination ecosystem, has named Michelle Gill as chief executive officer. The company is based in Wausau, Wisconsin. Gill joins from PayPal, where she was executive vice president and general manager of Small Business and Financial Services. She was previously chief financial officer and then executive vice president of Consumer Lending and Capital Markets at SoFi, and spent 14 years at Goldman Sachs, most recently as a partner co-leading Structured Finance. She succeeds Kurt Grossheim, who is retiring after three and a half years as chief executive officer. He will stay on as a board member and senior advisor to support the transition. Apollo partner Ephraim Rudman said Gill is well positioned to guide Aqua's next phase of growth.
Aqua Finance names Michelle Gill as Chief Executive Officer. October 19, 2026 08:00 ET | Source: Aqua Finance WAUSAU, Wis., Oct. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Aqua Finance ("Aqua" or the "Company"), a fast-growing consumer lending platform within Apollo's origination ecosystem, announced the appointment of Michelle Gill as Chief Executive Officer. Gill joins Aqua Finance from PayPal, where she served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Small Business and Financial Services. Gill brings deep expertise in specialty lending and a track record of building and scaling consumer lending platforms. Prior to PayPal, she served as CFO and then EVP of Consumer Lending and Capital Markets at SoFi. She previously spent 14 years at Goldman Sachs, where she was most recently a Partner co-leading the Structured Finance business. Gill succeeds Kurt Grossheim, who is retiring after leading Aqua as CEO for the past three and a half years. Grossheim will remain with Aqua as a member of the Board of Directors and as a Senior Advisor to support the transition. "Michelle is a highly accomplished Financial Services and FinTech leader with a track record of building strong consumer finance businesses," said Ephraim Rudman, Partner at Apollo and Aqua Board Member. "With her deep industry experience across specialty lending, Michelle will be well positioned to accelerate adoption of new technology and guide Aqua's next phase of growth. Kurt has helped establish a strong foundation for Aqua as a leading point-of-sale financing platform, and we are looking forward to working with Michelle as we continue to expand and scale the business." "Aqua has built deep relationships with its dealer and merchant partners over the past 35 years," said Michelle Gill, incoming CEO of Aqua Finance. "I look forward to working with Kurt, the Board and the entire Aqua and Apollo teams to build on that strong foundation as we continue to expand the financing solutions we offer." "It has been a privilege to lead Aqua alongside such a talented team, and I am proud of what we have built together," said Kurt Grossheim, outgoing CEO of Aqua Finance. "Michelle is an outstanding leader with deep experience in consumer lending and technology, and I am confident she is the right person to guide Aqua into its next chapter. I look forward to supporting her and the team through the transition." About Aqua Finance Aqua Finance is a leading point-of-sale consumer finance platform that originates and services home improvement, in-home water treatment, pool and recreational vehicle loans across the credit spectrum. The Company has built strong and growing merchant relationships over 40 years, with a national network of 6,000+ dealer relationships. To learn more, please visit www.aquafinance.com. Aqua Finance Contact Kimberly Field Chief Legal Officer, Aqua Finance [email protected]
Aqua Finance's Shari Feinen joins Powersports Finance Summit 2026. September 8, 2026. Powersports Finance News is pleased to announce that Shari Feinen, regional sales manager for power sales at Aqua Finance, will join a session on rising costs and supply dynamics during Powersports Finance Summit 2026, taking place Sept. 16-17 at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel. Feinen will join the session titled "Navigating rising costs, supply dynamics and financing needs" at 3:30 p.m. local time on Sept. 16. View the full event agenda here. She has more than 35 years of experience in the recreation industry across insurance, service contracts and finance. At Aqua Finance, Feinen builds relationships with and supports dealers. Joining her in the session will be: * David Casillas, sales manager at Broward Motorsports; and * Laura Middendorf, chief financial officer at Horsepower Financial Services. They will discuss: * Rising carrying costs, aging inventory and tighter margins * Overcoming the nuances between the major powersports segments: motorcycle, marine and RV * Challenges in F&I productivity, regulatory requirements and technology integration Powersports Finance Summit provides attendees with a unique glimpse into key industry trends shaping strategies into 2027 across sales, dealer relations, finance and insurance profitability, affordability, buyer demand and shifting borrower profiles.
Aqua Finance, Inc. continues to expand its footprint at AIMExpo 2026. IRVINE, CA - December 31, 2025 - (Motor Sports NewsWire) - Aqua Finance, Inc. continues to expand its footprint as a leading indirect lender for powersport dealers nationwide. With a strengthened focus on strategic OEM partnerships, Aqua continues to increase dealer access to flexible and consumer-friendly financing solutions. This expanded collaboration with manufacturers is opening the door to a broader dealer network and greater visibility across the industry. Even as the market normalizes to pre-pandemic levels, Aqua is positioned for meaningful growth by capturing market share and delivering more value to dealers than competing lenders. Aqua's momentum is built on years of relationship-driven outreach and a commitment to providing simpler, faster, and better financing for dealers. Dealers benefit from a full spectrum lending approach that supports customers across a wide range of credit profiles, creating a true one-stop financing option. While Aqua offers modern tools like instant credit decisions, its team remains dedicated to providing real and human support whenever dealers need it. The company's balance of technology and personal service is a core differentiator, ensuring that every dealer interaction is efficient, responsive, and partnership focused. Since its founding in 1986, Aqua has steadily expanded into multiple verticals including home improvement, marine, pools and spas, RV, and powersports through consistent and organic growth. Today, Aqua's long-standing industry presence and dealer-first approach continue to drive strong relationships and long-term success. Visit us at booth 770 during AIMExpo 2026. About AIMExpo. AIMExpo is North America's premier powersports trade event, uniting the industry for three days of networking, education, and product launches. Produced by the Motorcycle Industry Council, the event features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest in motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides, e-power vehicles, aftermarket parts and accessories, gear, technology, and business services. Held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California, AIMExpo is the must-attend event for dealers, media, and industry professionals. Learn more at AIMExpoUSA.com.
Brunswick Corporation will partner with Aqua Finance, a full-spectrum lender, with collaboration from Apollo.
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Industries
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Wausau, Wisconsin
Founded
1985
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today