HOUSTON -

Group 1 Automotive on Monday announced the appointment of Daryl Kenningham to the new position of president of U.S. operations effective May 1. Currently, Kenningham serves as Group 1’s regional vice president of the dealer group’s Western region.

In his new role, the company said Kenningham will be responsible for all of Group 1’s U.S. dealership operations, which include 111 dealerships and approximately 9,400 employees. Group 1 added that it will also consolidate its Eastern and Western regional operations into a single unit with current Eastern region vice president David Fesmire assuming the new position of vice president of operations reporting to Kenningham.

Kenningham joined Group 1 in 2011 in the role of regional vice president for the Eastern region. Prior to joining Group 1, Kenningham served in a variety of sales, marketing, and operational roles with both Nissan and Gulf States Toyota, a private distributor serving the south central U.S. for Toyota Motor Sales USA.

“Daryl's extensive experience with major automotive manufacturers, as well as his thorough understanding of our retail operations, makes him the perfect person to lead our U.S. business.  As our company continues to grow in all three of our markets – the U.S., Brazil and the U.K. – there are increasing demands on my time,” said Earl Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer.

“Daryl’s appointment to this new role will enable me to focus more on strategic and growth initiatives and will be a seamless transition from an operating viewpoint as Daryl has detailed knowledge about every one of our 111 U.S. dealerships,” Hesterberg went on to say.