Digital marketing platform AutoWeb has appointed former Cox Automotive finance and operations leader Michael Sadowski as executive vice president and chief financial officer.
In the position, Sadowski succeeds J.P. Hannan, who will remain with the company briefly to facilitate the transition. Sadowski’s appointment is effective Nov. 30.
Sadowski’s financial and operational background includes more than two decades of experience in automotive, analytics and digital marketing for companies such as Cox Automotive, GameWorks and General Electric.
For Cox Automotive, Sadowski led various finance and operations functions for Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader and Dealer.com He worked closely with several members of AutoWeb’s current senior leadership team.
At GameWorks, Sadowski was responsible for revenue-generating functions such as product, analytics, business development, and sales and marketing. He also oversaw digital strategies and experiences.
Sadowski previously served in various financial management roles at publicly traded companies such as General Electric Co. and NextGen Healthcare, where his responsibilities included financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, strategy and treasury functions.
“Mike’s unique breadth of experience and track record of success will undoubtedly strengthen our executive team,” AutoWeb president and chief executive officer Jared Rowe said in a news release.
Rowe continued, “After our time at Cox, I hoped for an opportunity to work together again, and I am thrilled that the timing aligned so well for him to join our team. Mike will be an important part of our team as we move past the turnaround stages of our business and focus on product innovation and growth. He shares our philosophy and approach to running a lean and efficient organization, and we have personally seen his relentless drive and commitment to results.”
Sadowski was among Auto Remarketing’s 2017 40 Under 40 honorees.
Rowe thanked Hannan for his contributions as chief financial officer for the past two years.
“He played a key role in restructuring our financials and seeing us through our turnaround, and we wish him the best in his new endeavor,” Rowe said.
Stephane Ferri has joined the Presidio Group as principal.
For The Presidio Group, a merchant bank and investment banking adviser in the retail automotive sector, Ferri will focus on technology, M&A and principal investing activities and will be located in Presidio’s Atlanta office.
Ferri previously served as senior vice president for Flexdrive LLC, which recently sold to Lyft.
He also spent eight years with Cox Automotive, overseeing some of the largest sales divisions for AutoTrader and Kelley Blue Book.
Before his time at Cox Automotive, he was with Asbury Automotive Group for 12 years, serving as director of digital marketing.
“Stephane has been able to bridge the gap between retailer, vendor and OEM while utilizing leading-edge technology,” The Presidio Group wrote in a news release.
Presidio chief executive officer Brodie Cobb said Ferri’s digital and technology experience in the automotive industry “brings a unique skillset to the Presidio team.”
“I look forward to Stephane adding value to our traditional client engagements in automotive retail, while expanding our client base to include technology and other businesses that support automotive dealers,” Cobb said in a news release.
Ferri said it was an exciting time to participate in the automotive retail, digital technology and consumer mobility industries.
“It’s an honor to join the high-powered Presidio team that focuses on being a thought-leader and insightful adviser to its clients,” Ferri said.
Founded in 1998, The Presidio Group provides M&A advisory services through its wholly-owned investment bank, Presidio Merchant Partners LLC. The company says it has closed 90 auto retail transactions to date, worth more than $5.2 billion.
In naming Cassie Crampton director of sales training and Ed Andrews as senior director of major dealer accounts, Automotive Finance Corp. has created two new positions that AFC president Jim Money said is for the purpose of “devoting specialized resources to the field and leveraging the experience and industry relationships of two tenured members of the AFC team.”
AFC, a business unit of global vehicle remarketing and technology solutions provider KAR Auction Services Inc., d/b/a KAR Global, said the creation of the two positions is for the purpose of “serving customers better and with more personalized solutions.”
The company also promoted Charles “Chuck” Comeaux from regional manager to vice president of operations for the West division.
Regarding the new roles for Crampton and Andrews, Money said, “These new positions will help us maximize efficiencies and field resources to meet customer needs more effectively and with more targeted solutions.”
Crampton, who has been sales director at AFC since 2017, previously worked for Autobytel as senior manager of account management team and programs.
Prior to that, she was with Dealix, moving up steadily in positions of increasing responsibility over seven years. She started out in the automotive sector in 2007 as director of internet sales for an Ohio franchise dealer group.
Andrews’ 25 years of industry experience began with management of bank floorplan lines for large independent dealers.
In 2000, he joined AFC as an assistant branch manager and went on to manage various branches in Mississippi and Florida. Since 2013, Andrews has served as the regional manager over Florida.
Comeaux, who will report directly to Money, started out in the retail automotive industry, and his areas of experience include leading sales, F&I and general management for a small group of dealerships.
Eventually obtaining his dealer’s license, he worked primarily in the wholesale auto sector.
He joined AFC as a regional manager in 1996.
“Chuck has proven to be an exceptional operations leader — managing regional teams with a simultaneous focus on people development, revenue generation and process optimization,” Money said in a news release.
Money continued, “His crucial role in implementing data analytics tools such as Tableau into AFC operations is just the most recent example of his outstanding contributions and pioneering spirit.”
