Asbury Automotive Group will have a new CEO this spring.

Announcing its leadership succession plan, the dealership group said Monday that longtime president and chief executive David Hult will transition to the role of executive chairman, with current chief operating officer Dan Clara becoming president and CEO.

This move will become effective after Asbury’s 2026 annual stockholders meeting, which is expected to happen in May.

In conjunction with the annual meeting, the board plans to nominate Clara to the board and name Bridget Ryan-Berman as lead independent director.

Asbury anticipates that Tom Reddin, whose extended term as non-executive chairman expires at the meeting, will remain on the board.

Hult has been Asbury’s CEO for eight years.

“It has truly been an honor to serve as CEO of Asbury and I want to thank all of our team members for their unwavering commitment to delivering for our guests, partners, and shareholders. Over the past several years, we have expanded our footprint, invested in our people and technology, and stayed true to our guest centric values,” Hult said in a news release.

“The fundamentals of our business are strong, and we are poised to maintain our momentum as we execute our focused growth strategy. After careful consideration, the board and I are confident that now is the right time to launch this succession plan and transition Asbury to its next generation of leadership,” he added.

“Dan is a proven leader and operator. His drive, strategic mindset, and strong dedication to our values make him the logical choice to serve as Asbury’s next CEO. I have tremendous confidence in his ability to lead the company to new heights and look forward to working closely with him during the transition period and as executive chairman.”

Clara has been COO since February. He has been with Asbury since 2002, when he joined Crown BMW in Greensboro, N.C., as a client advisor in the Manager-in-Training program.

Clara’s leadership roles have progressed since then, moving from dealership positions (F&I manager, new- and used-car manager, general sales manager, general manager, etc.) to corporate responsibilities like vice president of market operations, senior vice president of operations and COO.

“I am deeply grateful to our board of directors for trusting me to lead Asbury. I also want to thank our dedicated employees whose passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to our North Star — to be the most guest-centric automotive retailer — continue to inspire me every day,” Clara said. “David’s leadership has positioned Asbury for sustained success, and I am thankful for his mentorship and the solid foundation he has built. We will work together to ensure a seamless transition and I look forward to collaborating with him and our talented team to build on our momentum, deliver exceptional experiences to our guests, and create sustainable value for our shareholders.”