AutoNation’s new chief financial officer is entering the position with the company off to a good year, as the dealer group revealed its choice for CFO as well as a 4-percent year-over-year increase in new-vehicle sales this past month — notching its best February for new-vehicle sales since 2007.

AutoNation — which sold 21,987 new-vehicles last month — has hired Cheryl Scully to the position of executive vice president and CFO. The move was effective Tuesday.

The company also announced this week impressive new-vehicle sales which broke down, as follows:
—    6,829 for domestic, up 3 percent year-over-year
—   10,822 for import, up 4 percent year-over-year
—   4,336 for premium luxury, up 7 percent year-over-year.

The company’s new EVP and CFO Scully will oversee internal and external reporting, treasury, tax planning and compliance, internal audit, investor relations, financial planning and analysis and the company's shared service center, AutoNation officials reported.

Scully will report to Mike Jackson, AutoNation's chairman and chief executive officer. 

Scully had been serving as interim CFO since Jan. 7. 

"AutoNation is fortunate to have someone the caliber of Cheryl to assume the role of chief financial officer," said Jackson.  "Cheryl will be a strong addition to our senior executive team and I look forward to her leading our finance function.  She brings significant financial management and capital markets experience, which when combined with her strong leadership qualities and automotive industry knowledge, will serve the company well into the future."

Highlighting Scully’s background in the industry, prior to joining AutoNation, Scully served as VP and treasurer of JM Family Enterprises Inc., a diversified automotive company. 

She joined AutoNation in 2009 as VP and treasurer responsible for overseeing the company's capital markets, risk management and cash management functions, and in 2010 also assumed responsibility for the company's investor relations function.