AutoTrader.com today announced the appointment of Joe George as vice president of product management, a newly formed department at AutoTrader.com. George will be responsible for the management of the entire AutoTrader.com product, which includes all aspects of the web site consumer interface, as well as dealer and national accounts programs. As the current vice president of dealer services and an automotive industry veteran, George brings nearly ten years experience with Manheim Auctions to AutoTrader.com.This new role will become effective January 1, 2001.
"The development of a formal product management team is one of our top objectives for 2001. Joe's expertise in establishing the framework for much of the dealer success we've enjoyed has proven to be instrumental to our growth and prosperity," said Jim McKnight, executive vice president and COO of AutoTrader.com. "With Joe's help, AutoTrader.com will be the one name consumers, dealers and potential partners think of when it comes to the most comprehensive automotive site."
Maryann Keller, Wall Street's leading automotive analyst for over 25 years and most recently president of priceline.com's Automotive Services division, has formed her own company to provide business strategy, valuation, and merger and acquisition advice to the automotive industry. She is joined by Kenneth A. Elias, formerly vice president in the Automotive Services of priceline.com. The firm is based in Greenwich, CT.
Linda Judd of EDS Automotive Retail Group was recently named one of the 100 Leading Women in the Auto-motive Industry by Automotive News.
Autofusion announced that Louis Urbano has been named CEO. Prior to becoming CEO, Urbano was the chief operating officer. During his tenure as COO, Urbano established partnerships with Selectica, Digital Insight Corporation, and Group One Automotive, as well as turning Autofusion into a profitable company in May.
AutoNation, Inc. has announced the appointment of Allan Stejskal as senior vice president, e-commerce. Mr. Stejskal's responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of the company's e-commerce business, including maximizing new and used vehicle sales via the Internet, expanding the company's national e-commerce footprint and expanding the company's Internet parts and service revenue opportunities. Stejskal succeeds Thomas W. Eggleston, who now has the responsibility of developing e-commerce strategic alliances for the company.
Autodaq Corporation has named Donald B. Fowler director of industry relations. Fowler, a 25-year veteran of the automobile remarketing industry, comes to Autodaq from Manheim Auctions, where he served as director of special operations. In this capacity, he was responsible for coordinating the development and roll out of new products, such as auction certification. He also was responsible for sales, training and operational procedures for AASC/AutoIMS, a Manheim-supported industry product.
Adam Boyden, Autodaq president and chief executive officer said, "Don brings a highly respected career perspective on the auction industry to Autodaq. We look forward to Don's counsel and stewardship in identifying opportunities to put Autodaq technology to work for auctions and their customers and to helping Autodaq coordinate our resources to serve the industry.
"Adding an automotive remarketing executive of Don's caliber and tenure further solidifies the Autodaq management mix of automotive and high-technology expertise-a recipe that, in the end, most benefits our customers."
Fowler, who will focus on developing auction-related business and other major accounts at Autodaq, has an established pedigree for building and nurturing business relationships for industry-leading auctions. In addition to his work at Manheim, Fowler, as an independent consultant, had previously provided on-site management and a full range of consulting services to independent auctions in the Southeast.
Autodaq Corporation has named Carole-Lynn S. Glass vice president of finance.
Glass, an 18-year veteran of corporate finance who had served as a financial consultant to Autodaq over the past five months, will oversee the company's finance and administrative functions, and will serve on the company's executive committee. She will report to Adam Boyden, Autodaq president and chief executive officer.
"Carole-Lynn brings tremendous experience and knowledge in corporate finance and administration to Autodaq," said Boyden. "Her strong business acumen is an asset to our executive management team and will greatly enhance our ability to grow Autodaq and serve our customers."
Before joining Autodaq, Glass served as chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration for SteriGenics International Inc., a third-party contract sterilization and materials processing company. Among her responsibilities, Glass guided the company's initial public offering and follow-on offering, led the financial due diligence of the company's merger and acquisition activities, and provided necessary SEC filings.
Glass previously served as corporate controller for 3Soft Corporation, a United Kingdom-based intellectual property company. Her responsibilities included opening the company's U.S.based office, restructuring the company from a U.K. to an U.S. based entity, and managing the financial systems of both domestic and overseas operations.
Before joining 3Soft Corp., Glass had risen through various accounting and finance positions to become corporate controller and director of ADI Systems, Inc/Espirit Systems, Inc.
ChoiceParts today announced the appointment of two key executives to complete the formation of its senior management team. Douglas Doughty will serve as chief technology officer (CTO) and Mark S. Haskins will serve as chief financial officer (CFO). ChoiceParts also announced the solidification of its broader technology and product development team, as the company continues to expand its private, B2B exchange for auto repair parts into more than 200 auto dealerships in Dayton, Ohio, Milwaukee and Minneapolis/St. Paul test markets.
"Our expanded management team offers the experience and enthusiasm that will drive the next phase of our growth strategy," said Chan W. Galbato, president and CEO of ChoiceParts. "Since forming the company in May 2000, we have worked closely with our customers to create a highly integrated product. The leadership that this experienced management team brings will enable us to remain aggressively focused on building increased functionality into our product as we expand into new markets."
Galbato said that Doughty's 15 years of technology leadership and Haskins' broad experiences with implementing financial disciplines into operational strategy will ensure that ChoiceParts' product yields a high return on investment for its customers.
Galbato said that Badar's experience in developing superior Internet-based transaction systems and his successful track record of building and maintaining winning teams, processes, systems and customer relationships will also serve ChoiceParts well as the company continues to improve its product and builds its top-rate management team.
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