CARMEL, Ind. -

ADESA will have a new president on Feb. 26.

Parent company KAR Auction Services said late Thursday afternoon that Stéphane St-Hilaire, who has been ADESA’s president since early 2014, is resigning.

Taking on the role is John Hammer, who had been chief executive of KAR’s Automotive Finance Corp. business until 2016. Hammer was most recently CEO of U.S. Auto Sales, Inc.  

St-Hilaire will remain with the company until the end of February to aid in the transition; Hammer will rejoin KAR on Feb. 26.

“John has a 25-year track record of delivering successful results. He knows our industry, he knows our company and above all, he knows our culture,” KAR chairman and CEO Jim Hallett said in a news release.

“ADESA is well positioned for the future, and John’s expertise and entrepreneurial drive will positively impact our customers at every level. He’s a seasoned leader who is committed to employee engagement and collaboration — so I am eager to see what we can accomplish together.”

Hammer’s responsibilities include the operations of ADESA and 75 auction locations throughout North America. He will report directly to Hallett and serve on KAR’s senior leadership team.

“I am thrilled to lead ADESA and rejoin the incredible KAR management team that Jim Hallett has strategically assembled,” Hammer said in the release. “KAR and ADESA have made meaningful investments in people, technology and data analytics that will help us rapidly deploy new, innovative customer solutions. I look forward to leveraging KAR’s diverse capabilities, and getting out to the field to hear from our customers and our employees.”

St-Hilaire became ADESA Canada’s chief financial officer in 1998 and held various senior positions with the company during the last two decades. 

“Over the past 20 years, Stéphane St-Hilaire has remained a dedicated and committed member of the KAR team and we wish him the best in his next chapter,” said Hallett.