CARMEL, Ind. -

KAR Auction Services announced Thursday evening that Insurance Auto Auctions chief executive officer Tom O’Brien is stepping down from his IAA post on April 30.

Taking his place will be John Kett, who is currently IAA’s president and chief financial officer. Kett becomes president and CEO on May 1.

O’Brien will remain a KAR board of directors member until the next annual stockholders meeting in June. At that time, he will retire from the board.

“Over the last 13 years, Tom O’Brien spearheaded IAA’s transformational growth from a small, regional company to the leading live and live-online global salvage vehicle auction company,” said Jim Hallett, CEO of KAR Auction Services.

“Under Tom’s leadership, we saw phenomenal growth at IAA including extensive expansion and improvement of our facility footprint, development of an industry-leading technology platform that improves the way IAA and our customers do business, development of an extensive catastrophe preparation plan that helps us to quickly mobilize and service our customers during turbulent times, and the dramatic globalization of our buyer marketplace,” Hallett added.

“We are thankful to Tom for all his contributions, including his role in the development of a strong leader such as John Kett to carry on his legacy.”

O’Brien noted:  “A company’s success is directly proportional to its investment in its people. During my tenure I have been amazed at the dedication and commitment of the IAA team and the results we have achieved. I believe that 2014 is the right time for me to step down, as IAA is operationally sound and well positioned for future success.

“This change reflects the succession plans that have been in place for many years and is a logical progression for IAA. I am proud to pass the mantel to John, who has been an integral part of the management and strategy development for the company, and who is poised to take the company and its leadership to the next level," O'Brien continued.

"Upon my departure from IAA, I look forward to continuing my involvement with companies outside the automotive industry including serving on various boards of directors," he went on to say.

Kett has been with IAA since 2001 when he came aboard as senior vice president of planning and business development.

He was named CFO in 2007 and president in 2011.

Kett said: “I want to thank Tom for his invaluable leadership, for always encouraging innovation and for embracing the latest technologies that have made IAA the leading salvage auction company it is today. I am excited by this opportunity and look forward to building on these accomplishments in the future.”