NEW YORK –

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association has named Robert Vail as its new chairman.

Vail, the current president of the Vail Auto Group in Bedford Hill, N.Y., has been a member of the GNYADA board of directors since 1993 as well as holding several positions on both the executive and finance committees for the organization.

The third-generation auto retailer joined the business in the 1960s as a mechanic at the family Ossining Studebaker dealership; Vail’s grandfather opened a Chevrolet dealership in the same town in 1918.

Mark Schienberg, GNYADA’s president, expects Vail to perpetuate his contributions to the association in the new position.

“Bob has been a dedicated advocate for dealers over many years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job,” Schienberg said, “and I look forward to working with him on the Association’s many important lobbying efforts and grassroots dealer and consumer initiatives.”