Overview

Gender

male

Don Gayhardt leverages more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in the financial services industry. He notably served as CEO and president of CURO, which operates in the U.S. and Canada under brands such as LendDirect, Southern Finance, Covington Credit, and First Phase. Don Gayhardt joined the full-spectrum consumer credit provider in 2012 and was part of a leadership team with more than 100 years of combined experience in the financial services sector. He stepped down in late 2022 to focus on other opportunities.

Responsible for CURO's strategic direction, Mr. Gayhardt orchestrated a substantial shift in its business model, transforming its U.S. direct lending business into a near-prime installment lender with the capacity to offer larger loans. He began to initiate this shift by facilitating the purchase of Heights Finance in late 2021. In 2022, CURO acquired First Heritage Credit for $140 million and sold its legacy storefronts and online businesses in the U.S. to Community Choice Financial for $345 million in cash consideration.

A collaborative leader who encourages employees to have a healthy work-life balance, Don Gayhardt prides himself on being open and honest with colleagues and encouraging employee input on business practices and products. At CURO, he upheld the company ethos of "best idea wins, check your ego at the door."

Earlier in his career, Mr. Gayhardt served for 15 years as president of Dollar Financial Group and played a major role in the business' international expansion. Most notably, he oversaw the opening of more than 700 stores in the United Kingdom and Canada. Complementing his financial services industry experience, he holds a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Notre Dame and serves on the board of the Community Financial Services Association of America.

A longtime resident of the Philadelphia area, Mr. Gayhardt supports a variety of community organizations and nonprofits, including Bryn Mawr Hospital, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and local school