Online Automotive Industry Leader Hires New Execs to Lead Marketing and Creative Services; Mike Martinez and Tim Stiles Bring Experienced Leadership to the Cobalt Group
25 September 2000
Online Automotive Industry Leader Hires New Execs to Lead Marketing and Creative Services; Mike Martinez and Tim Stiles Bring Experienced Leadership to the Cobalt Group
SEATTLE--Sept. 25, 2000--The Cobalt Group , a leading provider of Internet-based business-to-business services to the automotive industry, today announced the addition of Mike Martinez as vice president of marketing and Tim Stiles as vice president of creative services.Martinez will lead Cobalt's product management, product marketing, and marketing communications efforts. Stiles will manage and help expand Cobalt's creative services practice.
Mike Martinez, vice president of marketing
"Cobalt is delighted that Mike Martinez is joining our executive team as vice president of marketing," said John Holt, president and CEO of The Cobalt Group. "We plan to utilize his experience in all aspects of marketing to deepen our product management effort and further hone the articulation of our extraordinary value proposition, generating additional customer interest in our products and increased revenues for Cobalt."
Prior to joining Cobalt, Martinez was the general manager of marketing for Lucent Technologies where he led all marketing efforts for the company's eRelationship management and eBusiness software applications. Prior to Lucent, Martinez spent seven years at Microsoft Corporation, where he held various roles in product marketing. While at Microsoft, Martinez created and implemented multiple marketing and promotional strategy plans, resulting in increased revenues and greater gross margins. In addition, he raised productivity, labor utilization and service levels while a manager in the Product Support Services Division. Martinez holds a master's degree in business from Pacific Lutheran University.
Tim Stiles, vice president of creative services
"Tim Stiles is a great addition to Cobalt's management team," said Holt. "Tim's strengths in business development, team building and advanced technology make him a superb candidate to lead our creative services effort and provide deeper and richer custom solutions to our major automobile manufacturer and dealer clients."
Working with T3 Media, a leading independent U.S. Internet solutions firm, and a number of start-up companies, Stiles has developed a strong background in a variety of business disciplines, including business development, technology, operations and client service. While with T3 Media, Stiles successfully planned the growth and long-term direction of the company's Seattle practice, and launched the company's California office.
Additionally, Stiles served as vice president of operations for Generic Software and senior associate and director of information systems for NBBJ, a professional services firm. Prior to NBBJ, he was co-founder and vice president of product development for Lasersoft, an engineering/manufacturing start-up. Stiles holds a master's degree in business from Oregon State University.
ABOUT THE COBALT GROUP
The Cobalt Group(TM) , headquartered in Seattle, is a leading provider of Internet-based products and services for the automotive industry. Cobalt helps dealers, dealer groups and automobile manufacturers harness the power of the Internet to realize new efficiencies, win new prospects and better serve their customers.
With approximately 6,000 dealer Web site clients, over 10,000 dealers using its parts locating system, and relationships with 15 automotive manufacturers and more than 50 of the 100 largest dealer groups in the United States, Cobalt is one of the leading technology companies serving the automotive industry.
Cobalt operates MotorPlace.com(TM) (www.MotorPlace.com), a business-to-business vertical portal for the automotive industry; DealerNet(R) (www.dealernet.com), one of the best-known automotive destination sites on the Web; and PartsVoice(R) (www.partsvoice.com), a leading OEM auto parts locating and data management service. The Cobalt Group also owns IntegraLink Corporation, the auto industry's premier provider of advanced data collection and reporting services. Cobalt offers Web site services that are endorsed by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
The Cobalt Group has offices in Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Detroit, MI; Columbus, OH; and Austin, TX.
For more information, please visit The Cobalt Group at www.cobaltgroup.com or call 800/909-8244.