CHICAGO — PayLink Direct announced the appointment of Justin Thomas as the company’s new president and COO. Thomas brings more than 16 years of experience in the service contract, insurance, and financial services industries. He joins PayLink Direct from Assurant, where he served as president of global financial services and U.S. automotive national accounts, and will primarily focus on strategic growth initiatives, executives said.

Prior to Assurant, Thomas was executive vice president of The Warranty Group and served on the board of directors of Virginia Surety Co. There he led the formation of TWG Specialty Solutions, a business that doubled its revenues during his leadership tenure and where his responsibilities included client management, sales and operations. Additionally, Thomas was a key member of the management team at The Warranty Group, helping to facilitate its sale to TPG Capital in 2014 and its subsequent sale from TPG Capital to Assurant in 2018, according to the announcement.

“I am very excited to have Justin join our team. His experience in the extended service contract industry and his history of growing businesses will prove invaluable as we continue to evolve our services,” said Rebecca Howard, the company’s co-founder and CEO.

“Rebecca and her team have built a wonderful business and I am both proud to be a member of the team and energized by all of the opportunities our services and solutions can be applied to,” said Thomas. “It’s a business that is not only at scale and a leader in its current field but one that is adaptable and full of potential.”