Kayne Grau has been named chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors at CarNow, a dealer retailing system, effective immediately.

Grau will work closely with the CarNow leadership team to accelerate product innovation, strengthen the company’s network of industry partners, and grow its customer base. Grau has held senior leadership positions at Cars.com, DirecTV, Apartments.com, and eToys. He co-founded DRIVIN, a company that used data and technology platforms to acquire, deliver, and market used cars for its network of dealer partners, which was later sold to OPENLANE. Most recently, he served as CEO of Uptake, a leader in the industrial intelligence software-as-a-service sector.

“CarNow’s dedication to transforming automotive retailing resonates deeply with me,” Grau said. “By leveraging intuitive and cutting-edge technology solutions, we’re in a strong position to empower dealers and enhance the overall car-buying experience. My goal is to lead CarNow in delivering simplicity and value to our customers.”

CarNow currently serves more than 5,000 dealership rooftops across the U.S. and its digital retailing and messaging solutions are designed to enhance online engagement and streamline processes between dealerships and car-buyers.

“We’re thrilled to have Kayne join CarNow as its new CEO,” said Michael Brown, general partner at Battery Ventures. “His proven ability to foster innovation and drive smart growth —plus his past executive experience across e-commerce and online marketplaces — makes him an ideal fit as we enter the next chapter of CarNow’s evolution.”

Grau holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from National-Louis University.