With so much happening online nowadays, IAA reinforced its security expertise with an executive who has an extensive retail background.
On Tuesday, IAA appointed Andrew Albrecht as vice president and chief information security officer. The company said Albrecht will report directly to Maju Abraham, senior vice president and chief information officer.
Most recently, Albrecht served as senior director for IT security and compliance for Designer Brands (DBI), an omnichannel retailer with more than 650 stores across multiple international brands. At DBI, he developed and championed comprehensive business-minded visions and actionable strategies to identify and minimize risk while also establishing a cybersecurity operations center.
Prior to DBI, Albrecht was vice president and chief information security officer for Michaels Stores and held various information security leadership roles at global companies including Best Buy, La Quinta Inns & Suites and L Brands.
“We are pleased to welcome Andrew to the IAA Team,” Abraham said in a news release. “Andrew has extensive experience in advanced information security governance at well-known, multi-billion-dollar retailers.
“His impressive track record will allow enhanced protection of IAA’s intellectual property while optimally securing IT and business resources,” Abraham continued.
IAA added that Albrecht will be based at the company’s headquarters in Westchester, Ill.
The McConkey Auction Group has hired Joe Lemonds of Carolina Auto Auction to be the new general manager of the DAA Las Vegas auction it purchased earlier this month, while also announcing a chief operating officer for the company, among other moves.
Starting with the new auction GM, Lemonds has been Carolina’s assistant general manager the past two years, following time heading up the national accounts for the auction.
In his new position, Lemonds will work alongside DAA Las Vegas vice president Dan Thomas and managing partner Russ Norrish.
“Joe understands the challenges that dealers and national accounts are facing,” MAG chief executive officer and president Bob McConkey said in a news release. “He’s eager to help them succeed in their businesses as he works to expand DAA Las Vegas’ market.”
Carolina Auto Auction general manager and owner Eric Autenrieth added, ““We’re really excited for Joe — this move is a great opportunity for him and his family, and it’s well-deserved. He will definitely be missed here at our sale, though!
“We’ve begun the search for a qualified candidate to oversee our commercial sales, dealer sales, and marketing teams, and we know that filling Joe’s shoes won’t be easy,” he said.
Beyond the hiring of Lemonds, MAG has made a few other executive team additions. The company has promoted DAA Northwest GM Dave Pendergraft to the role of MAG chief operating officer, and it has brought on Chris Bradley from the Titus-Will Automotive Group to lead business development.
Collin McConkey will now be the GM of DAA Northwest.
“I’m really looking forward to working alongside Joe and our entire executive team,” Bob McConkey said in the release. “The Stanley family (Carolina Auto Auction) and McConkey family have a deep connection and a long history in this industry. “We’ll be working together closely in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition as Joe comes onboard.”
Jim Menard’s professional automotive career includes senior leadership roles at Dominion Dealer Solutions, TrueCar, Autotrader, vAuto and Search Optics.
Now Menard is with CallRevu, which offers automotive conversation intelligence featuring call data, tracking and advanced machine monitoring powered by artificial intelligence to help dealers connect and communicate with customers to close deals.
Menard joined CallRevu on Thursday as its new vice president of client services to focus on strengthening CallRevu’s relationships with dealers, supporting customer growth and elevating CallRevu’s brand across the automotive ecosystem.
“I am excited to join CallRevu where I can apply my passion for helping dealers achieve greater success, helping them simplify the customer experience while strengthening their conversations with customers,” Menard said in a news release. “CallRevu is a cornerstone in helping dealers achieve their goals.”
Menard has been working in the automotive industry for 23 years, including time as senior vice president of sales, service and support for TrueCar as well as other senior leadership roles at AutoTrader, vAuto and Search Optics. CallRevu highlighted that Menard brings proven experiences that result in better organizational effectiveness, employee retention and satisfaction along with higher sales, greater market penetration and enhanced customer experience.
Menard comes to CallRevu from Dominion Dealer Solutions where he was the vice president of client success, operations and OEM relationships where he focused on dealer and OEM relationships across the company’s software and digital marketing platforms.
Menard is also a frequent keynote speaker for influential automotive groups, such as the National Automobile Dealers Association, National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, and National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers [NABD].
“We are excited to have Jim on-board and help us take our customer engagement to the next level,” CallRevu chief executive officer Anthony Giagnacovo said. “Jim knows the industry and has proven experience leading a customer services team to deliver unparalleled value and service.
“Jim is bold, innovative and champions partnership — all are core values to CallRevu and made Jim an obvious choice,” Giagnacovo added.
Black Widow reinforced its leadership on Tuesday with a technology expert who arrives from ADESA.
The automated imaging company with a drive-through camera system that can capture images and 360-degree virtual tours within seconds named Chris Dillow as chief technology officer.
Black Widow said Dillow, who brings more than 30 years of enterprise information technology experience to his new role, will ensure its information systems continue to scale with the company’s rapid growth in the automotive remarketing space.
Through high-end image technology, Black Widow emphasized that it’s focused on helping auctions and dealers become increasingly more efficient while enhancing the quality, consistency and timeliness of the online experience.
“Chris joins our team at the perfect time,” Black Widow chief executive officer Jason Hauk said in a news release. “Technology is the cornerstone of what we do.
“Chris’ deep experience and proven track record as a leading technology executive in our space will accelerate Black Widow’s already advanced imaging systems to enable dealers, auctions, service departments and rental companies to transact, verify and build trust with their customers in the digital world we now all work in,” Hauk continued.
Most recently, Dillow was chief technology officer for ADESA. In that role, his leadership helped the company moved into the digital world by implementing high quality, more efficient and consistent imaging of auction inventory.
Black Widow mentioned Dillow also was instrumental in bringing ADESA’s inventory to the cloud.
“I am thrilled about joining Black Widow at a time when the auto remarketing space has leapt into the digital world,” Dillow said. “Black Widow’s impressive imaging technology is a critical component in a world where auctions and dealer are increasingly relying on stellar imagery to transact with confidence and assurance.”
Prior to joining ADESA Dillow worked for several business units at KAR Global. His automotive technology career began as IT manager for AutoVIN, a field and auction inspection company where he rose to the position of chief technology officer.
Dillow began his career in 1990 designing hardware and software for ADS/Mobile Security, which developed and brought to market one of the first automotive GPS-based tracking and alarm systems.
One of the largest trainers of automotive service technicians reinforced its senior leadership on Tuesday.
Universal Technical Institute announced two additions to its leadership team in support of the company’s work to accelerate its growth initiatives, while continuing to deliver strong student outcomes and service to industry customers.
Bart Fesperman has joined the company in the newly created role of senior vice president and chief commercial officer, while Sonia Mason has been named senior vice president and chief human resources officer.
Both executives will report to UTI chief executive officer Jerome Grant.
“These exceptional additions to our team reflect our focus on building a body of strong, dynamic leaders who can take this organization to the future and help us deliver on UTI’s significant potential,” Grant said in a news release.
“In the past year, we have bolstered our executive team with new leaders heading up corporate strategy, IT, finance and legal. Bart and Sonia complement and help round out this powerful group,” Grant continued.
In his new role, Fesperman is accountable for UTI’s marketing and student recruitment functions and leads the company’s integrated approach to student engagement with a focus on optimizing interactions with students from lead generation though graduation.
“Bart is a strategic, data-driven leader with a long track record of delivering ROI and exceptional service to customers, while also generating substantial long-term growth,” Grant said. “He is known for developing and guiding successful teams and building strong and enduring partnerships.
“As we continue to transform our business and deliver enduring opportunities for our students — now and post-pandemic — Bart will play a vital role,” Grant added.
Fesperman brings to the role more than 20 years of experience in marketing and sales leadership. Most recently, he served as chief commercial officer for I.C.E. Enterprises, a provider of sales and service functions for brands such as American Express, USAA and Marriott Vacations. There, he was responsible for the leading and executing key growth strategies, as well as the company’s marketing and sales programs.
Prior to that post, Fesperman was executive vice president of sales and marketing for DirectBuy.
As senior vice president and chief human recourses officer, Mason will lead UTI’s human resource function supporting all aspects of the business as the company continues to execute on its growth and diversification strategy. She will be responsible for talent acquisition and management, succession planning, performance management, training and development and compensation and benefits.
“Sonia brings to the table a wealth and breadth of experience and is a sharp strategist and exceptional leader,” Grant said. “She’s a courageous and collaborative executive who is known for delivering results, building high-performing teams and creating an environment where people can thrive.”
Mason has more than 20 years of experience in human resources leadership across multiple industries. For more than five years, she led human resources for Mesa Air Group, a regional air carrier with more than 3,500 employees. There, Mason was responsible for a transformation initiative that delivered substantial improvement in the company’s results.
Masson has also held HR leadership roles with Celerion, a pharmaceutical research company, Special Devices, Safeway and MCI WorldCom.
Another former high-level Cox Automotive executive has landed with a different automotive technology company.
Sid Nair, who spent a little less than a year as chief sales officer at Cox Automotive, on Monday became chief executive officer at Affinitiv, a leading provider of data-driven marketing and software solutions to the automotive market.
Affinitiv also announced that Nair will join the company’s board.
According to a news release, Nair brings more than 25 years of experience running large-scale technology companies with a strong executive leadership background that spans general management, sales and marketing, revenue growth and transformation.
Nair joins Affinitiv from Rackspace, where he was the executive vice president and general manager of the Americas region, running a $2 billion P&L with 1,500 associates across sales, delivery, operations, marketing, product and solutions.
At Rackspace, the company said Nair delivered the best three sales quarters in Rackspace history following several quarters of decline.
Prior to Rackspace, Nair was chief sales officer for Cox Automotive, where he led a 3,000 member sales and marketing team across Cox Automotive’s 25 brands. Prior to Cox, Nair held executive leadership roles at DXC Technology, Dell Services and Wipro Technologies.
As part of a planned transition process, Steve Anderson, chairman and AutoLoop founder, will continue to be involved with the company in a chairman role, focused on strategy, products and key customer relationships.
“Sid has a proven track record of driving transformative growth at large-scale technology companies,” Anderson said in the news release. “He’s singularly focused on growth and has accomplished that at every company he’s worked with in the past.
“Sid is an extremely positive, high-energy, engaging and motivating leader. He has a customer-first mentality and is a strong champion for all internal team members as well. I’m very pleased that we have someone of Sid’s caliber to serve as our new CEO and look forward to seeing his immediate impact on the business,” Anderson went on to say.
During the past 12 months, Affinitiv has continued to expand its product offering with a focus on high-value data, analytics, marketing and software solutions that can help dealerships maximize customer retention and revenue throughout the entire ownership lifecycle.
Today, Affinitiv offers a fully integrated technology platform purpose-built for OEMs and dealerships that spans retention marketing, equity mining, online scheduling, service lane software and digital marketing solutions. Affinitiv’s proprietary analytics platform can provide sophisticated customer and marketing insights based on a combination of unique data sets from OEMs, dealerships and third parties.
“Affinitiv enjoys an impressive customer roster, a strong and differentiated product offering, a consultative, partnership-oriented mentality, and an amazing group of highly talented and motivated individuals,” Nair said.
“The automotive aftermarket continues to be critical to the health and prosperity of both OEMs and dealerships and we believe we are uniquely positioned to help them improve the customer experience, increase loyalty, and optimize service and parts performance,” he continued.
“Affinitiv represents a highly unique opportunity to leverage the differentiated assets we have today to drive immediate value for our customers and introduce new innovative offerings,” Nair went on to say.
CIP Capital managing partner Justin Lipton also shared his perspective on what bringing Nair aboard could do for Affinitive
“We have continued to make significant investments in technology, data and analytics, with a focus on strengthening the value and insights we can offer to our OEM and dealer partners,” Lipton said. “Across his past experiences, Sid has consistently reshaped the business to create a winning culture with teams that believe in a growth vision, thrive together, beat competition, delight customers and deliver profitable growth.
“We believe that Sid brings a strong operational playbook that, paired with our differentiated product set and commitment to innovation, will drive tremendous long-term growth,” Lipton said.
There’s a new general manager at Greater Milwaukee Auto Auction.
It was announced earlier this week that hired for the role is Veronica Kireem, whose 25 years in automotive has included time in corporate, dealership and auction roles.
That experience also includes leadership posts in new-vehicle sales, licensing and finance.
“Her background and leadership abilities are ideal for our dealer-serving team. As a business that welcomes all dealers to attend weekly in-lane or online, we’re thrilled to have someone with such extensive dealership experience on board,” GMAA founder and president Kristie Letizia said in a news release.
“With Veronica’s help, we will continue to set the pace for continued growth as the auction evolves into the future.”
Kireem said in the release: “Greater Milwaukee’s dealer focus in the ideal for me to leverage the skills I’ve acquired over my career.
“Everything I’ve done to this point in the auto industry is going to come into play here — I love it!”
The top leader at Cox Automotive is set to change.
On Tuesday afternoon, Cox Enterprises named Steve Rowley as the new president of Cox Automotive, which includes Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Dealertrack, vAuto and Manheim through an action that’s effective Monday.
Rowley is getting the position from Sandy Schwartz, who is moving to a role as chief executive officer of the Cox Family Office, according to a news release.
The company also said Keith Holmes, senior vice president of residential sales for Cox Communications, will become executive vice president of Cox Business.
Rowley joins Cox Automotive from his role as executive vice president of Cox Business, the commercial division of Cox Communications. The company highlighted Rowley’s leadership has been an integral part of transforming Cox Business into a large growth engine for Cox Communications through operational execution and acquisition.
Cox also emphasized Rowley brings deep experience leading through change and disruption in the wireless, cable and telco industries, an invaluable asset as Cox Automotive continues to integrate, innovate and transform the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses vehicles.
Meanwhile, Schwartz will move into a new position as CEO of the Cox Family Office. There, the company said Schwartz will use his 35 years of experience at Cox to work with the company’s shareholders and bring his business acumen to family investments.
Schwartz will continue to oversee Cox newspapers in Atlanta and Dayton, Ohio, and until the end of the year, will retain the title of CEO at Cox Automotive, according to the company.
“Cox is fortunate to have such a strong leadership bench,” said Alex Taylor, president and CEO of Cox Enterprises.
“Both Steve and Keith have great track records with our company and I know will keep us on a path of innovation and growth,” Taylor continued. “I trust them both to treat their employees and customers with great integrity. And I’m thrilled Sandy will still be with us thinking through strategy on the family side of the business.”
As president of Cox Automotive, the company indicated Rowley will immediately begin working with Schwartz to transition duties and oversight of the company with a focus on engaging with dealer customers.
"It's a huge honor to be asked by Alex and Sandy to lead this incredible business,” Rowley said. “Cox Automotive is helping the industry make a sharp right turn toward technology and digitization and I'm ready to listen to our customers and give them innovative solutions for the way forward. I grew up dreaming about fast sports cars, and now I can drive forward the company with the most horsepower in the automotive market.”
Replacing Rowley as the head of Cox Business is Holmes. Under Holmes’ leadership, Cox noted that the residential sales team continued to adapt and find new ways to drive sales and retain customers in an ultra-competitive marketplace.
Holmes brings 30 years of experience to this new role and held several leadership positions at AT&T prior to joining Cox Communications.
“Keith Holmes has the right mix of creativity and agility to anticipate customer needs, post strong results and grow Cox Business annual revenue,” Cox Communications president and CEO Pat Esser said.
CallRevu recently hired a new vice president of sales whose professional background included time with a large dealership as well as CDK Global.
Taking on this role for the provider of automotive conversation intelligence, featuring call data, tracking and advanced machine monitoring with artificial intelligence for dealers, is Justin DePasquale, who is being asked to help the company’s vision by leveraging his experience in sales leadership, while focusing on growing and retaining CallRevu customers and team members.
“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the CallRevu family, focusing on the sales strategy to better serve our customers,” DePasquale said in a news release.
“Having spent my entire career in the auto industry, I am always thrilled to work with organizations that have a strong focus on the people and culture to push the boundaries for the future of the automotive landscape,” he continued. “The CallRevu team is no exception to that endeavor,”
DePasquale has been working in the automotive industry for 27 years, spending the first eight years at a large retail dealership in Northern Indiana. He then joined ADP Dealer Services (now CDK Global) where he worked 15 years helping CDK grow its business by working with its largest national and strategic customers.
DePasquale joins CallRevu from his most recent role where he served as the vice president of sales for North America for AutoPoint, a Solera company. During his time there, he was a central leader of an increasingly successful and continually growing sales and account management team.
“We were fortunate to have many quality candidates to choose from, but we found a kindred spirit in Justin given his rich experience in growing software enterprises, focused on serving the unique needs of the automotive industry CallRevu chief executive officer Anthony Giagnacovo said.
“We are excited to have Justin on board,” Giagnacovo continued. “We know Justin’s focus on selling value will resonate with our customers and prospects.”
For more information about the company, visit http://www.callrevu.com.
With close to two decades of automotive technology experience and executive level roles at LivePerson and LotLinx, Denise Chudy now is taking on her next professional challenge as chief growth officer at Friendemic.
The provider of an online reputation solution built specifically for the needs of the automotive industry and dealerships, in particular, also said this week Chudy has been appointed a member of the Friendemic board of directors.
As the company’s chief growth officer, management indicated Chudy will be responsible for leading the sales and marketing divisions of Friendemic, as well as cultivating the base of the company’s solutions with her network of manufacturers, dealer groups and industry partners.
“Denise is joining our team at a pivotal time for the organization. While the world is learning to cope with the effects of the Coronavirus, Friendemic is giving dealerships the tools to communicate effectively with customers through video, online reputation sites, and via social media,” Friendemic chief executive officer Steven Pearson said in a news release
“Denise will help communicate the crucial role technology fills as dealerships continue to operate in a socially-distant environment with customers. We could not be happier to have her as a part of the team at this crucial moment in our history,” Pearson continued.
Friendemic highlighted that Chudy has established herself as an outstanding digital retailing strategist. During her time leading the automotive digital marketing division of LivePerson, she was instrumental in rebranding Contact at Once into LivePerson, migrating thousands of dealers from a legacy system into the cloud, advancing the company’s business with automakers globally, and leading the 100-plus person automotive division under the parent company.
Prior, Chudy was co-founder and president of retail at LotLinx, where she led the company from concept to more than 1,000 customers strong and was instrumental in creating and leading sales, customer success, and operational teams.
Chudy also held leadership roles at Google and Cars.com, according to the news release.
Friendemic reiterated that it provides a comprehensive social and reputation product set for the automotive industry, weaving together tools to monitor and build online reviews, seamlessly collect, approve and publish social media content and advertising, and generate leads from social listening.
“I’ve known of Friendemic for years, but in today’s environment, their reputation management and digital retailing solutions are now a critical part of the automotive shopping journey. I am excited to show my network how Friendemic can help them better connect and engage with today’s remote shoppers,” Chudy said.
For more information on how Friendemic’s software solutions can help dealerships in the digital landscape, visit www.friendemic.com.
