Group 1 Automotive announced it has named Melkeya McDuffie as senior vice president and chief human resources officer.

The dealership group, which owns and operates 259 automotive dealerships and 39 collision centers in the U.S. and U.K., said McDuffie has a proven track record of “developing and deploying strategies to attract, enrich and retain the best talent needed to capacitate businesses for sustainable growth and profitability” in her more than 20 years in executive human resources leadership roles in multiple industries with multi-location operations.

“Melkeya shares our vision that developing a strong, people-first culture is the key to building an agile organization that delivers on its business objectives across geographies,” Group 1 president and CEO Daryl Kenningham said. “Her experience building high-performing cultures, combined with her leadership and creativity, will support our focus on operational excellence and help attract colleagues who rethink business as usual.”

McDuffie has served as chief people officer for Bright Horizons, a multinational provider of early education, childcare and workforce education services with 30,000 employees. Her resume also includes top human resources roles with environmental and hazardous waste disposal company Clean Harbors, The Wallace Foundation, Waste Management, Wells Fargo Mortgage, HSBC Finance and Quest Diagnostics.

She currently serves on the advisory board of Dress for Success Houston and as a director of Trex Company, with seats on the Audit and Compensation committees.

McDuffie’s honors include Most Powerful and Influential Women and Most Powerful Businesswomen in Texas by the National Diversity Council, Most Influential Black Women to Follow by CIO Views and HR Superstars by HRO Today magazine.

GM becomes owner with acquisition in Connecticut

A dealership general manager has made the jump to owner.

Christopher Tornaquindici, GM of Gene Langan Volkswagen of Glastonbury in Connecticut, has joined with Brian Boland to purchase Gengras Volkswagen of Plainville in Plainville, Conn., from Gengras Motor Cars.

The transaction was announced by Performance Brokerage Services, which represented the buyers.

“Helping Chris achieve his dream of becoming a dealer while working with the Gengras family to bring the deal together was a privilege,” said Jacob Stoehr of Performance Brokerage Services, who noted Tornaquindici’s extensive leadership experience and Boland’s “strategic vision and leadership aimed at driving growth and enhancing the dealership’s community presence.”

Gengras, led by president Chip Gengras, operates nine dealerships in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont.

The dealership will be renamed Crew Volkswagen.

Kansas dealerships sold

Paul Tew and Jordan Peterson of 2Auto Group has acquired Max Ford and Max Hyundai of Manhattan, Kan., from Mark Muller and Bob Jacaway of Max Motors, according to Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions, which represented the seller in the transaction.

Missouri-based Max Motors, founded in 2006, operates seven dealership locations and a collision center.

The stores will operate as Manhattan Ford and Manhattan Hyundai.