A recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers now is part of the executive team at DealerSocket.

This week, the software company announced the appointment of Tony Graham as executive vice president and general manager of its Auto/Mate business unit. DealerSocket highlighted that Graham brings a proven track record of success, experience and leadership working with automotive dealerships to his new role.

Graham served in various leadership roles during his 26 years with CDK Global and ADP Dealer Services, including vice president of sales, multiple regional general manager roles, and chief customer experience officer.

“I am thrilled to welcome Tony to DealerSocket and our executive team,” DealerSocket chief executive officer and president Sejal Pietrzak said in a news release.

“Tony has a deep understanding of and experience in the automotive retail industry, especially the DMS space, and he shares our commitment to our dealers and team members. Tony will be a tremendous leader of our Auto/Mate business unit,” Pietrzak continued.

Credited with successfully launching CDK's Minority Dealer Business in 1999 and running the program until last year, Graham also served as executive sponsor of the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. Last year, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from NAMAD.

“I’ve known Tony for well over 20 years. He has a tremendous amount of integrity and empathy for his dealership customers and just has a real passion for whatever he’s doing,” said Ernest Hodge, CEO and president of Atlanta-based March/Hodge Automotive Group. “I have been thoroughly impressed with him throughout his entire career. He’s just outstanding.”

Graham now joins DealerSocket as executive vice president and general manager of Auto/Mate, which DealerSocket acquired in February to offer dealers a comprehensive new choice for an all-in-one, intelligent software platform for their stores.

“The two things I’m most proud of are the number of employees I helped develop and grow as their mentor, and that I have been dedicated to supporting automotive dealerships from the smallest to the largest operations. My focus has always been on customer relationships and service, and that matches DealerSocket’s and Auto/Mate’s commitment to customer service for dealers,” Graham said.

“These are important times in the industry, and the combination of DealerSocket with Auto/Mate offers dealers a full platform solution with deep focus on customer support and innovative software. I’m excited to get started with DealerSocket,” he went on to say.

For more information, visit DealerSocket.com.