Top Management Changes Announced At JM Family Enterprises
14 September 2000
Top Management Changes Announced At JM Family Enterprises
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.--Sept. 14, 2000--Jim Moran, Chairman of the Board of JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (JMFE), a Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based diversified automotive company, has assumed the position of Honorary Chair. In his new position, Moran will continue to provide guidance and expertise to help advance the company's growth.President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pat Moran, has been appointed to Chairman of the Board, while remaining CEO and retaining her title of President of Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, one of JMFE's core companies. Pat Moran will continue to direct the long-range planning, overall activity and strategy for JMFE and its related companies.
Colin Brown has been named President of JMFE, and retains his current title of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Brown will oversee corporate operations.
"This re-positioning of our top management will help us continue to build a strong and successful future as we complete the first year of the new millennium," said Kathy Eggleston, vice president of Corporate Communications for JMFE. "We will benefit from the vast experience and industry knowledge of our founder, Jim Moran, who will remain actively involved in guiding our company.
"At the same time, we will have the opportunity to take full advantage of Pat Moran's leadership and vision, while being directed by the expertise of our new president and COO, Colin Brown," she added.
Jim Moran founded JMFE in 1968, when he signed a distributor agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation to distribute Toyotas in the five southern states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama and North and South Carolina. At the time, Moran was already a respected leader in the automotive business, having quickly built his dealerships -- first Hudson, secondly American Motors, then Ford, followed by Pontiac -- into the largest volume selling dealerships in the United States. All of them were number one in sales, customer satisfaction and service in the United States. He originated the name Courtesy Motors in Chicago, and became well known as "Jim Moran the Courtesy Man."
As Jim Moran brought his business know-how to Florida through JM Family Enterprises, he also brought his dedication and strong belief in giving back to the community. His generosity and wide range of charitable interests flourished in his new home, and he quickly became as well known for his humanitarian activities as he is for his business acumen. In recognition for both his business accomplishments and his commitment to community, Jim Moran has received countless awards, including two honorary doctorates - first in 1987 from Northwood University and then in 1997 from Florida State University. In 1996, Jim Moran was awarded the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, an honor presented to distinguished Americans who have risen from humble beginnings, overcome adversity and achieved success through determination and hard work.
Pat Moran joined JMFE in 1983, and after serving in various management capacities, was appointed president/CEO in 1989. Since Pat Moran's appointment to that position, JMFE's revenues have grown from $2.4 billion to more than $6.6 billion in 1999. In the September 12, 2000 issue of Automotive News, Pat Moran was named among the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.
Colin Brown has been with the company since 1992, and was appointed COO in 1997. Before joining JMFE, Brown served as General Counsel and in senior management capacities for two Fortune 500 companies: Atlanta-based Fuqua Industries, Inc. and Cannon Mills Company in Kannapolis, NC.
JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (www.jmfamily.com) has more than 3,000 associates located in Deerfield Beach and Jacksonville, Fla., Mobile, Ala., Commerce, Ga. and St. Louis. It is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 18th largest privately held company in the United States. In January 2000, it was ranked by a survey in Fortune magazine as the 49th best company to work for in the United States. Its principal businesses focus on vehicle distribution and processing, finance and warranty services, and insurance activities. JMFE's core companies include Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, the nation's largest franchised distributor of Toyota vehicles; World Omni Financial Corp., offering a complete range of customer driven automotive financial products and services; JM&A Group, providing warranty and insurance products and services to automobile dealerships throughout the country; and JM Lexus, the largest volume retail dealership of Lexus cars in the country.