In response to what it describes as growing demand from its customers for mobile sales, ADESA on Thursday named Matt Laughridge to the newly created position of general manager of ADESA Mobile Auctions.

Also, the company promoted Sawyer Walker from regional to national manager of the company’s dealer-to-dealer sales program, ADESA UVA.

ADESA said in a news release that Laughridge brings almost 20 years of experience to the new position. He joined the auto remarking industry in 1999, and his experience includes positions in auction management and sales. Most recently, he was director of mobile auction sales and operations at Manheim.

President of the ADESA specialty division Jane Morgan described Laughridge as “a proven leader in the industry, with an innate ability to close a deal.”

Mobile sales allow dealers to turn inventory more quickly and efficiently, Morgan said, and that saves time and money on transportation, she added.

“Matt will build on the momentum we’ve created in our mobile division and solidify our position as the provider of choice in the mobile auction space,” Morgan said.

Regarding the promotion of Walker, Morgan said UVA helps car dealers meet today’s marketplace challenges by providing the opportunity “to buy and sell retail-ready inventory in a comfortable, convenient and exclusive environment.”

“Sawyer’s deep knowledge of the UVA auction program makes him the perfect choice to lead the initiative as we expand the concept into additional markets,” Morgan said. 

When ADESA purchased Brasher’s Auto Auctions in 2016, Walker was managing the UVA program for that auction group. He continued in that position until 2018, when ADESA promoted him to regional UVA manager in 2018. Previously, he served in a sales role for Brasher’s.

ADESA’s expansion of UVA sales includes an additional bi-weekly UVA sale at ADESA Las Vegas and a weekly UVA sale at ADESA Dallas expected to launch this summer.