Gil West is the CEO of Hertz Global Holdings (NASDAQ: HTZ), the world’s largest car rental company. Appointed on April 1, 2024, West succeeded Stephen Scherr, who stepped down after a costly electric vehicle strategy that led to billions in losses. A veteran operations executive with over three decades of experience, West previously served as Senior EVP and COO of Delta Air Lines and COO of GM Cruise. Under his “Back-to-Basics” turnaround strategy, Hertz returned to EPS profitability in Q3 2025, achieved record fleet utilization above 84%, and reduced average fleet age to under 10 months.
Read on to discover Hertz CEO Gil West’s email address, net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career history, education, and more.
Gil West — Quick Facts
| Gil West — At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Wayne “Gil” West |
| Age | 64 years (as of 2026) |
| Position | Chief Executive Officer & Director |
| Company | Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTZ) |
| CEO Since | April 1, 2024 |
| Previous Role | COO, Cruise (GM); SVP & COO, Delta Air Lines |
| Education | B.S. Mechanical Engineering, NC State University; MBA, National University |
| Net Worth (Est.) | ~$23 Million |
| Total Compensation (2024) | $35.2 Million |
| [email protected] | |
| Headquarters | 8501 Williams Road, Estero, FL 33928 |
Career Highlights
- Hertz CEO (2024–present): Leading the company’s turnaround from a $2.9 billion net loss in 2023 to a return to quarterly profitability in Q3 2025
- Delta Air Lines COO (2014–2020): Oversaw worldwide operations for 70,000+ employees, building one of the most reliable operations in the airline industry
- Cruise COO (2021–2023): Managed operations for GM’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary
- Back-to-Basics Strategy: Reduced EV fleet exposure, rightsized overall fleet, improved utilization to 84%+ (highest since 2018)
- Business Roundtable Member: Active participant in shaping U.S. business policy
- NC State Board of Visitors: Serves on NC State University’s Board of Visitors
Gil West Net Worth 2026 — Hertz CEO Salary
As of 2026, Gil West’s estimated net worth is approximately $23 million, primarily based on his Hertz stock holdings. According to SEC filings, West owns about 2,160,369 shares of Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) stock worth over $16 million, comprising approximately 70% of his total portfolio.
For his first year as CEO (fiscal year 2024), Gil West received total compensation of $35.18 million. This included a significant one-time sign-on equity award to recruit him from Cruise. His employment agreement guarantees an annual base salary of at least $1.5 million and a target annual incentive bonus of at least 150% of base salary. West did not participate in the 2024 or 2025 long-term incentive programs; his regular LTIP eligibility resumes in 2026 with an anticipated grant-date value of at least $8 million per year.
Gil West Compensation Breakdown (FY2024)
| Component | Amount (USD) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $1,125,001 | 3.2% |
| Annual Bonus | $1,687,500 | 4.8% |
| Stock Awards (incl. sign-on) | $32,322,862 | 91.9% |
| Other Compensation | $45,519 | 0.1% |
| TOTAL | $35,180,882 | 100% |
Key Insight: Over 96.7% of Gil West’s 2024 compensation was performance-based (bonus + equity), with only 3.2% from base salary. The large stock award includes a one-time sign-on grant; his ongoing annual LTIP is expected to be approximately $8 million starting in 2026.
Hertz Financial Summary — Is Hertz Profitable?
Hertz has been executing a major turnaround under Gil West. While 2024 was a transition year with significant losses from the prior EV strategy, the company returned to quarterly EPS profitability in Q3 2025 and expects mid-single-digit revenue growth in Q1 2026.
Hertz Financial Performance
| Metric | FY2025 | FY2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $8.5B | $9.05B | ▼ -6.1% |
| Net Income (Loss) | ($747M) | ($2.9B) | ▲ Improved $2.1B |
| Adj. Corporate EBITDA | ($339M) | ($1.3B+) | ▲ $1B+ improvement |
| Q3 2025 Net Income | $184M | — | ▲ First profit in 2 yrs |
| Fleet Utilization | 84%+ | ~75% | ▲ Highest since 2018 |
| Avg. Fleet Age | <10 months | — | ▲ Youngest in ~decade |
| Locations | 10,200+ | 10,200+ | — |
| NASDAQ Ticker | HTZ | ||
Turnaround Progress: Hertz improved Adjusted Corporate EBITDA by more than $1 billion year-over-year in 2025, returning to quarterly profitability in Q3 2025 for the first time in two years. Net Promoter Score increased nearly 50% year-over-year.
Gil West Education & Early Life
Gil West earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1984 and an MBA from National University in 1990. His engineering background has been central to his operations-focused leadership style, giving him a systematic approach to complex logistical challenges across aviation, autonomous vehicles, and now fleet management.
West remains connected to his alma mater and currently serves on the NC State University Board of Visitors, reflecting his commitment to engineering education and the university community.
Career & Professional Timeline
| Period | Role | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | B.S. Mechanical Engineering | NC State University |
| 1990 | MBA | National University |
| Pre-2014 | Senior operations roles | Aviation & transportation industry |
| 2014–2020 | Senior EVP & COO | Delta Air Lines |
| 2021–2023 | Chief Operating Officer | Cruise (General Motors) |
| Apr 2024–Present | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Hertz Global Holdings |
At Delta Air Lines (2014–2020), West served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing worldwide operations and managing more than 70,000 employees. Under his leadership, Delta built one of the most operationally reliable airlines in the industry, consistently ranking at the top for on-time performance and baggage handling.
West then joined Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous vehicle subsidiary, as COO in January 2021. There he managed the complex logistics and operations of deploying self-driving vehicles, gaining valuable experience with cutting-edge vehicle technology that he would later bring to Hertz.
In April 2024, West was recruited to lead Hertz specifically to clean up after the company’s costly EV experiment. His predecessor, Stephen Scherr, had ordered 100,000 Tesla vehicles that proved expensive to maintain and had poor resale values, contributing to billions in losses. West immediately launched his “Back-to-Basics” turnaround strategy focused on fleet rightsizing, operational efficiency, and cost discipline.
Gil West Personal Life
Gil West, age 64, keeps his personal and family life private. He is known as an operations specialist and a methodical, data-driven executive. His career has spanned aviation, autonomous vehicles, and car rental — all industries that require managing massive, complex operations with precision.
West is a member of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of America’s leading companies. He also serves on the NC State University Board of Visitors, maintaining a connection to his alma mater and supporting the next generation of engineers.
Gil West Fun Fact
West’s predecessor at Hertz, Stephen Scherr, earned $182.1 million in total compensation in his first year — one of the highest CEO pay packages in America that year. Scherr’s ambitious plan to buy 100,000 Tesla vehicles for the rental fleet backfired spectacularly, with high maintenance costs and poor resale values contributing to a $2.9 billion net loss in 2024. West was specifically recruited to undo this strategy, and within his first year he had already improved EBITDA by over $1 billion and returned the company to quarterly profitability.
Hertz CEO Email Address & Contact Information
| Gil West — Contact Details | |
|---|---|
| Email Address | [email protected] |
| Gil West — CEO at Hertz | |
| Corporate HQ | 8501 Williams Road, Estero, FL 33928 |
| Investor Relations | ir.hertz.com |
| Hertz Newsroom | newsroom.hertz.com |
Hertz Competitors
Hertz operates in the competitive car rental and fleet management industry. Key competitors include:
- Avis Budget Group (Avis, Budget, Zipcar) — closest direct competitor
- Enterprise Holdings (Enterprise, National, Alamo) — largest private car rental company
- Sixt SE — European-based rental company expanding in the U.S.
- Europcar Mobility Group — major European operator
- Turo — peer-to-peer car sharing platform
- Uber / Lyft — ride-sharing alternatives to car rental
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current Hertz CEO?
The current CEO of Hertz Global Holdings is Gil West (full name Wayne “Gil” West), who was appointed on April 1, 2024, succeeding Stephen Scherr.
What is Gil West’s net worth in 2026?
Gil West’s estimated net worth is approximately $23 million as of 2026, primarily based on his Hertz stock holdings of over 2.1 million shares worth approximately $16 million.
What is the Hertz CEO’s salary?
Gil West’s total compensation for fiscal year 2024 was $35.18 million, including a $1.125 million base salary, $1.69 million bonus, and $32.3 million in stock awards (including a one-time sign-on grant). His base salary going forward is at least $1.5 million annually.
What is the Hertz CEO’s email address?
Gil West’s email address at Hertz is [email protected]. Hertz’s corporate headquarters is at 8501 Williams Road, Estero, FL 33928.
What happened to Hertz’s EV strategy?
Under previous CEO Stephen Scherr, Hertz ordered 100,000 Tesla vehicles for its rental fleet. The vehicles proved costly to maintain with poor resale values, contributing to a $2.9 billion net loss. Gil West was brought in to execute a turnaround, reducing the EV fleet and implementing a “Back-to-Basics” operational strategy.
What did Gil West do before Hertz?
Before Hertz, Gil West served as COO of Cruise (GM’s autonomous vehicle unit, 2021–2023) and as Senior EVP & COO of Delta Air Lines (2014–2020), where he managed operations for 70,000+ employees.
Is Hertz profitable?
Hertz returned to quarterly profitability in Q3 2025, reporting $184 million in net income. While the full year 2025 still showed a net loss of $747 million (improving from $2.9B in 2024), the trajectory is positive with the company expecting mid-single-digit revenue growth in early 2026.
Article last updated: March 5, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.