North Steps Down as Avis CFO
Brian Choi will assume the role of chief financial officer on August 24.

Before joining Avis Budget Group, North was CFO for Lithia Motors Inc.
Photo courtesy of Avis Budget Group.
Avis Budget Group Inc. today announced that John F. North III will transition from his role as chief financial officer to pursue other interests. North served in the position since February 2019. Brian Choi will assume the role of chief financial officer on August 24.
As part of the transition, Choi will resign from the Avis Budget Group board of directors and will also no longer have any affiliation with SRS Investment Management. North will remain with Avis Budget Group as an advisor through the end of the year to facilitate the transition.
Joe Ferraro, chief executive officer of Avis Budget Group, said, “I want to thank John for his leadership and dedicated service to Avis Budget. John has been a tremendous asset to the company, particularly in recent months, when he has played a key role in delivering on the operational and financial strategies critical in helping navigate the company through the most challenged time in its history.”
“It has been an intense, yet gratifying experience for me at Avis Budget Group, and I am proud of what we have accomplished amid unprecedented challenges,” said North. “As we work through the transition, I am confident the company is well positioned and financially structured to emerge from the pandemic on solid footing.”
Choi has served on the Avis Budget Group board of directors since January 2016 and as a partner at SRS Investment Management LLC since 2008. Earlier in his career, he worked in the Leveraged Finance Group at Lehman Brothers. Ferraro continued, “We are delighted to have Brian join our senior management team. He brings intimate familiarity with our organization and strategy as a member of our Board, and I am confident his deep financial management experience will serve us well.” With Choi’s resignation, the Avis Budget Board will be reduced from seven to six members and the cooperation agreement with SRS Management has been amended accordingly.

Choi has served on the Avis Budget Group board since January 2016 and as a partner at SRS Investment Management LLC since 2008.
Photo courtesy of Avis Budget Group.
More Rental Operations

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
