Investors don’t like changes, Cars.com tumbles as company names new CFO

Cars.com Inc (NYSE: CARS) shares fell over 8% in Thursday trading after the company announced the appointment of Trent Ziegler as Chief Financial Officer-Designate, replacing current CFO Sonia Jain.

Ziegler will join the automotive marketplace on October 19, 2026, and formally assume the CFO role on November 6, 2026. Jain will serve as an Executive Advisor through March 31, 2027, to ensure an orderly transition.

Ziegler joins Cars.com from FairSquare, a fintech holding company, where he served as CFO. He previously spent over a decade at LendingTree, including three years as CFO and seven years leading Investor Relations and Treasury. During his tenure at LendingTree, he helped deliver improvements in profitability, optimized cost structure, and executed financing initiatives and acquisitions. He began his career at Ally Financial Inc.

“We are excited to welcome Trent as Cars.com’s next CFO,” said Tobi Hartmann, Chief Executive Officer. “Trent brings deep marketplace experience and a strong combination of strategic perspective, financial discipline and operational execution.”