LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — DealerTrack Holdings recently said it appointed six executives to new roles in order to enhance DealerTrack's customer focus, innovation and scalability. As part of these changes, Raj Sundaram, current president of ALG, will become senior vice president and head of dealer solutions for DealerTrack.

As head of dealer solutions, Sundaram will be responsible for a solutions-based approach to products and services that will help dealers maximize their profitability and efficiency in their sales and finance process. Executives said Sundaram will actively support the transition of consulting relationships to new members within the ALG team while he assumes his dealer solutions responsibilities.

Sundaram's new appointment to senior vice president and head of dealer solutions will enhance the value of his keynote speech at the 2006 National Remarketing Conference by adding even more of a dealer perspective, according to Ron Smith, conference chairman.

With his new position, Sundaram will not only discuss present market conditions and how ALG is forecasting 2006 and future-year trends, but he will also present the ALG Annual Lease Residual Awards at the conference and share insights into the ever-evolving dealer technology in the marketplace.

Sundaram explained that "ALG residual value rankings and awards are a very good barometer of a brand and/or model's success. Over the last several years, with increasing incentives and a supply/demand imbalance, residual value can be a competitive advantage for manufacturers. High residual value not only lowers the cost of incentives for the manufacturers, but also results in lower cost of ownership, which is an important purchase reason for consumers."

The Auto Remarketing Forum Series' National Remarketing Conference will be held Nov. 1-3, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. To register, visit autoremarketingconferences.com.

Along with Sundaram's new appointment, David Trinder has been named senior vice president and head of network solutions. He will focus on relationships, products and services for finance sources, aftermarket providers and other third parties that serve DealerTrack's customers. Trinder previously served as president of dealerAccess Canada and DealerTrack Aftermarket Services. Those operations will continue to report to him.

"We believe these appointments will enable us to best utilize our management capabilities to meet the needs of our 22,000 dealers and 250 financing source customers with innovative, customer-focused solutions," explained Mark O'Neil, chairman and chief executive officer of DealerTrack.

In addition to Sundaram and Trinder, Richard McLeer will become senior vice president of strategy and development for the company, with responsibility for future product development and acquisition strategy and integration. McLeer has been with DealerTrack since February 2001 and most recently served as vice president of credit and contracting solutions.

Moreover, Hugh Abernethy will become vice president of aftermarket network solutions and will be responsible for the development and expansion of the DealerTrack Aftermarket Network and DealerTrack's relationships with aftermarket product and service providers and agents. Abernethy joined DealerTrack in May 2005.

Mark Brown has been named vice president of lender solutions and will be in charge of managing the relationships with DealerTrack's financing sources, in addition to serving as general manager of the DealerTrack ToolKit credit application processing product. Brown joined DealerTrack in May 2006 to lead lender relationship management.

Finally, Alan Lehmann will become vice president of finance solutions. He will be responsible for products and services that support the finance, menu sales and e-contracting process for dealers, executives said. Lehmann joined DealerTrack in May 2004 and helped lead the development and growth of DealerTrack's e-contracting solution.