A Canadian online used-car retailer is adding an executive who had a hand in the explosive growth of a U.S. counterpart.

Richard Ball, who led Carvana’s inspection operation from 2016-2022, has joined Clutch as chief production officer. Clutch said Ball will oversee its national production operations, including inspection and reconditioning, as the company expands and scales across Canada.

“His deep expertise in scaling production and facility operations while embedding a relentless focus on quality will be critical as we continue to grow rapidly and deliver an unmatched car-buying experience to Canadians,” CEO Dan Park said.

Richard Ball

In a news release, Clutch said Ball “played a pivotal role” in Carvana’s growth from 19,000 retail sales to more than 412,000 during his tenure as director, senior director and vice president of the company’s inspection centers. He led 6,000 employees in 15 inspection and reconditioning centers, introducing training and leadership programs, and setting benchmarks for quality-driven production.

Ball’s career of more than 25 years also includes senior roles in operations and engineering with online retailer Vroom, Sonic Automotive and CarMax, focusing on automotive production, lean manufacturing and scaling complex operations.

Since 2022, Ball has worked as a consultant to Clutch, supporting the development of the company’s new headquarters in Mississauga, Ont., an expansion designed to increase its throughput capacity for the next five years.

In his new role, Ball will formalize that partnership and lead the company’s production, working closely with vice president of production Ryan Crooks.

“I’m looking forward to building on my experiences to help modernize the car buying and selling experience here in Canada,” Ball said. “After more than two decades in the U.S. auto retailing market, I see Clutch leading the charge in reshaping how Canadians buy and sell cars. The company’s rapid growth and momentum made joining the team an easy decision, and I’m eager to help scale the business while delivering a world-class customer experience.”

Clutch currently operates in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and buys cars from the public in British Columbia. Last month, the company reopened its West Coast facility in Richmond, B.C., a move it said “paves the way” toward bring its full buy-sell services to the province.