Andrew Donchak Joins Autobytel.com as Chief Marketing Officer
28 September 2000
Andrew Donchak Joins Autobytel.com as Chief Marketing Officer
IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 28 Autobytel.com , the
global leader in automotive e-commerce, today announced the appointment of
Andrew F. Donchak as Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).
Donchak was most recently the Vice President of Marketing at Navigation
Technologies, the world's leading producer of digital map information and
supplier to GM OnStar, MapQuest and Hertz, among others. Donchak also spent
over fifteen years at BBDO Worldwide, one of the most prestigious advertising
agencies in the world.
As Autobytel.com's CMO, Donchak will lead the continued development and
execution of Autobytel.com's worldwide marketing strategy. He will be
responsible for the company's customer acquisition and retention efforts and
the continued development and delivery of products and services that make
buying and owning a vehicle as easy as possible.
Donchak's career spans nearly three decades and is marked by significant
accomplishments in global and retail marketing and brand development. At
Navigation Technologies, Donchak's achievements included growing the marketing
and product manufacturing team from a handful of individuals to a 125+
department, spanning four countries. In addition, he played a key role in
strategic planning and new business initiatives and was instrumental in
driving sales from $27 million to $100 million in less than three years.
"I'm very pleased to welcome Andrew to our team. He brings a wealth of
marketing, branding and product development experience and a proven ability to
not only manage the kind of explosive growth and changes that comes with
stewarding a leader in e-commerce, but to also further expand Autobytel.com's
already formidable global brand awareness," said Mark Lorimer, Autobytel.com's
President and CEO.
Prior to Navigation Technologies, Donchak served as President of the
Consumer Division of Konami of America, a leading interactive entertainment
software development company, where he helped to restructure the company's
sales operations and rebuild its retail relationships with major national
chains. Before that, he spent 16 years with BBDO Worldwide in New York and
Chicago, working his way up to Executive Vice President and member of the
Board of Directors of BBDO New York. While there, he established the agency's
Network Operations Group, which had numerous responsibilities including
international new business development, and had a direct hand in landing,
maintaining and growing some of the agency's biggest name brand accounts.
Donchak is also active with charitable and cultural organizations, having
served as a board member of Good News Partners, an inner-city community
service organization. He is Governing Member of the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra, where he was also Vice Chairman of its Annual Fund. Donchak holds
a Masters in Marketing and Finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of
Management at Northwestern University, where he also earned a Masters of
Science degree in Journalism and his Bachelors of Science degree in
Communications Studies.
About autobytel.com inc.
Autobytel.com inc. , the global leader in online automotive
commerce, brings car buyers, owners, and sellers together in a trusted
environment, empowered by the Internet. Through its extensive automotive
content and multiple purchasing, financing, insurance and service options,
Autobytel.com offers consumers choice and peace of mind throughout the
automotive lifecycle, while providing its network of accredited dealers and
automotive services partners the most efficient way to reach online car buyers
and owners. Autobytel.com and its wholly-owned subsidiary, CarSmart.com, have
a network of over 5,000 Dealers nationwide and are the seventh largest
generator of automotive sales in the United States, just behind GM, Ford,
DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Autobytel.com has been ranked #1
in Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services for three years in a row by
J.D. Power and Associates.(1) Autobytel.com's low-cost, no-haggle car-buying
program is available in the U.S., Canada (http://www.autobytel.ca), the United
Kingdom (http://www.autobytel.co.uk), Sweden (http://www.autobytel.se) and Japan
(http://www.autobytel-japan.com). Headquartered in Irvine, California, Autobytel.com
is recognized as the company that transformed the $1 trillion new car industry
when it invented online car buying.
(1) J.D. Power and Associates 1998 - 2000 Dealer Satisfaction With Online
Buying Services Studies(SM). 2000 study conducted among dealership Internet
specialists who completed 2,144 evaluations of individual services.
http://www.jdpower.com.
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is
expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Autobytel.com
undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the
important factors that could cause Autobytel.com's actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking
statements are changes in general economic conditions, increased or unexpected
competition, changes in A.I.N.Corporation's financial performance, and other
matters disclosed in Autobytel.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Investors are strongly encouraged to review the Company's annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a
discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect operating results and
the market price of the Company's stock.