One of Canada’s largest retail automotive M&A consulting firms is looking to gain more business in the United States, choosing a former Audi and Penske executive to lead a growing footprint into six states.

Dealer Solutions North America, specialists in advising on and providing strategies for buying and selling dealerships, has announced its expansion into the U.S.

Leading the offices in the U.S. will be auto industry veteran Russell Hill, who has more than 50 years of experience across multiple sectors of the business. In prior roles, Hill led sales and dealer operations for Audi of America, oversaw a network of dealers for Penske Automotive Group as vice president of northern California and returned to Detroit as vice president of operations for Penske.

Most recently, Hill has launched several successful auto-industry businesses and consultancies.

“We are exclusively dedicated to assisting dealers and investors interested in making the most out of today’s robust market, which is poised for a dramatic valuation shift,” said Hill, who will serve as chief operations officer for Dealer Solutions North America.

“Tax reforms, favorable banking and continued investment by both OEMs and high-tech firms are attracting a new level of domestic and international interest; we expect these factors will continue to fuel increased demand for dealerships among well-funded investors,” he went on to say.

The U.S. offices of Dealer Solutions are in metro Detroit, with consultant offices in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Connecticut and Michigan.

Founded in 2012 by Farid Ahmad, a career automotive professional with extensive experience in retail, brand and real estate in Europe and North America, Dealer Solutions has advised on the successful closing of more than 150 dealerships amounting to more than $3 billion in value, with nearly 50 transactions pending. Within the past six years, the privately-held company, headquartered in Toronto, has become one of Canada’s largest retail automotive M&A consulting firms.

Dealer Solutions provides full-service, step-by-step guidance and support to acquiring or selling a dealership. The company boasts a proprietary appraisal system that can allow clients to understand the market value and potential for their dealership.

To date, Dealer Solutions has conducted nearly 500 dealership appraisals. And its extensive network of personal relationships can allow buyers and sellers to tap into a wide-ranging group of contacts across Canada and the U.S.

The company's expansion into the U.S. is the result of two years of exhaustive study, with the first new office opening in metro Detroit in late 2017, and dealership listings within the same period.

“Our Canadian-U.S. group is diversified and we are on course for continued growth, which combined with our proprietary process and ability to seamlessly bring buyers and sellers together, allows us to provide more value to clients in both countries,” said Ahmad, who serves as chief executive officer of Dealer Solutions North America.

“Our team of merger and acquisition experts collectively hold more than 30 decades of combined experience in the automotive industry, and we’re thrilled to be in the U.S. market,” Ahmad continued.

To learn more about Dealer Solutions, USADealerSolutions.com.