CARMEL, Ind. –

KAR Auction Services has promoted Jay Bahel to the position of vice president of strategic initiatives, the company announced Monday.

His duties in the new role include playing an integral role in building and executing company growth initiatives, while implementing technology to simplify internal and customer-facing processes, the company said.

Making the announcement was KAR chief operating officer Don Gottwald.

“Jay’s insight in applying IT solutions will help us advance our objectives company-wide,” said Gottwald. “We are confident he will continue to contribute to KAR’s success through his creative problem-solving and customer-first mindset.”

Bahel moved into a vice president at KAR’s Automotive Finance Corp. business in 2011. Prior to his time with AFC, Bahel as chief information officer for a division at Brunswick Corp. and as a consulting group leader with Project Leadership Associates.