The Florida Automobile Dealers Association has named a new president to succeed Ted Smith, who has retired after leading the FADA for 25-plus years.

Selected for the role is Peter Cuderman, a move that was effective Saturday.

Cuderman was mostly recently director of legislative and intergovernmental affairs in the executive office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, following similar roles in statewide and local campaigns in the state.

His background in government relations includes work on landmark franchise-protection legislation, and he currently is a commissioner on the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

Cuderman’s selection follows and nationwide search by the FADA board of directors search committee.

“For the past 26 years, Ted Smith has been the steady voice of Florida’s franchised dealers in Tallahassee, and there is no honest telling of this association’s modern history without him. The entire board wishes him a long, well-earned retirement,” FADA board of directors chair Chris Kraft said in a news release.

“When the search committee looked at what FADA needs next, Peter Cuderman stood out and was a unanimous decision: a Floridian with deep policy experience, a track record on dealer-protection legislation, and the kind of executive judgment that will lead FADA to even greater heights and build on Ted Smith’s legacy,” Kraft said.

Smith added, “I am so excited to welcome Peter to our association. He will be just the fifth president in our 106-year history to lead this $110 billion industry. Peter brings the requisite skills to work with our dedicated leaders to handle the challenges our industry faces now and in the future.”

Cuderman said, “Florida’s franchised dealers are the backbone of Main Street in every one of our 67 counties — they employ hundreds of thousands of Floridians, put roofs over Little League dugouts, and generate the sales tax that pays for our roads and schools.

“Having spent my career working with the Governor, the Legislature, and on campaigns up and down this state, I know how much depends on getting policy right for this industry,” Cuderman said. “FADA has spent 106 years earning its seat at the table, and I am honored the board is trusting me to build on that legacy and carry it forward.”