September 30, 2023
Car Culture
Mazda Names New Design Director
Staff Writer
March 30, 2021
Mazda North American Operations announced the appointment of Yasutake Tsuchida to senior director of design, effective immediately. In this role Tsuchida will oversee design operations, including next-generation vehicle planning and brand strategy development.
Tsuchida joins the MNAO team with more than 22 years of experience at Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan. He most recently served as the Chief Designer of the latest generation of Mazda3, which launched in November 2018 and went on to win the 2020 World Car Design of the Year award. Tsuchida was also the chief designer of the Kai Concept, and in the late 2000s Tsuchida worked in the Design Studio at MNAO, where he led design on the Furai concept car. Tsuchida began his career at Mazda specializing on exterior design and in the late 1990s and in the early 2000s was lead designer for Mazda3, CX-7 and the Ryuga concept car.
KIA Hires ‘Brand Experience Director’
Staff Writer
March 23, 2021
Kia Motors America announced that automotive industry veteran, Michael McHale, has joined the company as director, brand experience. In the newly created role, McHale will lead all aspects of public relations and external communications including events, experiential, auto shows and strategic partnerships. McHale will report directly to Russell Wager, KMA’s vice president, marketing.
McHale brings more than 25 years of automotive industry experience to his new role. Recently, McHale was head of communications at Rivian Automotive where he oversaw the brand’s introduction to the U.S. market in 2018. Previously, McHale spent 11 years as director, corporate communications at Subaru of America.
Wejo Appoints New CFO
Staff Writer
March 18, 2021
Wejo, a connected vehicle data firm, announced that Chief Financial Officer Barry Nightingale is planning to retire and John Maxwell has been appointed his successor in the role. The changes to the leadership team are effective immediately.
Nightingale helped lead the company from early-stage tech startup to global connected vehicle data leader. This included the $42 million of recent funding to ensure the Wejo team could remain at the forefront of the high growth connected vehicle market. Under his financial leadership, Wejo was named “Fastest Growing Company of the Year” at GP Bullhound’s Northern Tech Awards and established robust finance, legal and compliance teams and processes. Nightingale will continue to advise the company through early 2022.
“Barry has been a savvy financial leader and sage business counselor through some of our most critical moments of growth, and I’m grateful for all he has done to get Wejo to this inflection point,” said Richard Barlow, founder and CEO of Wejo. “He leaves big shoes for John to fill, but I have every confidence the company will remain on strong financial footing in the months and years ahead under his leadership.”
Maxwell will report directly to Barlow and work closely with the entire executive team and the Board of Directors as the company enters its next phase of growth. He will be based in the New York City area.
Maxwell comes to Wejo with more than 30 years of experience driving financial growth in highly successful start-ups in complex industries including tech and telecom. Most recently, he was CFO of Aquestive Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on epilepsy and allergy treatments. He started his career at Ernst & Young, and held various senior financial roles at General Signal, ADP, INFONXX and Plainfield Asset Management.
ComplyNet Expands Sales Team
Staff Writer
March 17, 2021
ComplyNet, a leading provider of compliance tools exclusively for the automobile dealer market, announced the addition of Josh Koronich to their sales team.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Josh previously,” stated Adam Crowell, president and general counsel for ComplyNet. “Josh proved himself through his rapid advancement from sales to sales management, and we expect the same at ComplyNet.”
ComplyNet continues to iterate its services and offerings and has recently introduced ABLE, a comprehensive compliance management tool that drives online training, eTask remediation, and the newest service, Guided Compliance Assistant (GCA).
“We have been very mindful of the dealer user experience and have taken the opportunity to incorporate design elements to reflect our learnings, from user management to reporting,” said Crowell. “Our service is exclusively and relentlessly dedicated to automobile dealers, and as such, we only concern ourselves with their risks and requirements.”
TrueCar Donates to Disabled Vets
Staff Writer
March 16, 2021
TrueCar announces a donation to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and four nonprofit organizations of choice from the winning dealerships of the $21K Challenge.
TrueCar pledged to donate $100, up to $11,000, to DAV for every meeting set during the recent NADA event. Additionally, four dealerships were picked at random to win a $2,500 donation for a nonprofit organization of their choice. TrueCar is committed to donating $11,000 to DAV and $2,500 four nonprofit organizations, for a total donation of $21,000.
TrueCar Dealership Winners and Nonprofit of Choice
- AutoNation Ford Scottsdale (Scottsdale, Ariz.) - Phoenix Children’s Hospital
- Nalley Nissan of Cumming (Cumming, Ga.) - Humane Society of Forsyth County
- Sterling McCall Toyota (Houston, Texas) – Kids Meals
- Trophy Nissan (Mesquite, Texas) - Sharing Life
Additionally, Trophy Nissan in Mesquite, Texas plans to match the $2,500 donation from TrueCar to Sharing Life, making a total donation of $5,000 to the Texas based, nonprofit organization.
“DAV has found a faithful and committed partner in TrueCar, a company that, time and again, proves its dedication to our nation’s heroes,” said DAV National Adjutant and CEO Marc Burgess. “This generous donation will help ensure DAV continues to provide the best service to America’s veterans by funding programs that directly impact the well-being of disabled veterans, their families and survivors.”
Fleet Firm Announces Hiring
Staff Writer
March 16, 2021
OnSite Fleet hired Craig Cheatle as senior vice president of business development and account management.
With 25 years of expertise in the automotive fleet industry, Cheatle brings a wealth of knowledge and the ability to apply an array of global automotive experiences and management techniques to the company, a press release stated.
“I am excited to have joined the fabulous team at OnSite and look forward to leveraging my fleet industry experiences and relationships to help us grow and provide our customers with new and customized solutions,” Cheatle said.
Cheatle developed and successfully launched the corporate sales department for Audi of America, which contributed to over 15 percent of total sales in the U.S. and Canada. He has established, implemented and led numerous fleet consulting and process reengineering programs for corporate fleets, automotive OEMs and tier 1 suppliers. Most recently, he served as the SVP business development, account management and marketing for Verra Mobility.
Hyundai Elantra Tops Hispanic Motor Press Awards
Staff Writer
March 15, 2021
The Hispanic Motor Press revealed the winners for the 2021 Hispanic Motor Press Awards (HMPA). The 11thannual program continues its yearly tradition recognizing the best new vehicles for Hispanic car buyers based on styling, driving satisfaction, technology, safety, environmental impact, mechanical reliability, and value.
“With overall manufacturer advancements in powertrain technology, safety features, infotainment, connectivity, and cleaner mobility, it is more important than ever to guide Hispanic car buyers who represent 30 percent of the growth in new-vehicle sales,” states Ricardo Rodriguez-Long, founder and president of the Hispanic Motor Press.
Hispanic Motor Press reveals 2021 best new vehicles for Hispanic car buyers.
The winners were announced during a special virtual LA Auto Show Automobility media day with the Motor Press Guild (MPG) in Los Angeles.
The 2021 HMPA winners and finalists in the 10 categories are:
Car Model of the Year: Hyundai Elantra
Finalists: Kia K5, Honda Accord
EV Car of the Year: Ford Mach-E
Finalists: Chevrolet Bolt EV, Kia Niro EV
Hybrid Car of the Year: Honda CR-V Hybrid
Finalists: Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Prime
Sports Car of the Year: Dodge Challenger SRT
Finalists: Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang
Luxury Car of the Year: Genesis GV80
Finalists: Cadillac Escalade w/Super Cruise, Lincoln Aviator
Car Technology of the Year: Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell
Finalists: Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai NEXO Fuel Cell
SUV of the Year: Chevrolet Suburban
Finalists: Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe
Pick-Up Truck of the Year: Ford F-150
Finalists: Chevrolet Silverado , Ram 1500
Adventure Car of the Year: Ram TRX
Finalists: Jeep Gladiator Mojave, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
Family Car of the Year: Chrysler Pacifica
Finalists: Buick Envision, Toyota Sienna
The 2021 HMPA Jury Panel is comprised of independent Hispanic automotive journalists, content creators and industry influencers selected by the organization’s advisory board. Over 20 juror members evaluated over 100 new vehicles during 2020 and into 2021.
Primeritus Names New Remarketing Exec
Staff Writer
February 24, 2021
Primeritus Financial Services, Inc., (PFS) has named Jason Herman senior vice president of remarketing, effective immediately. In this role, he will lead the company’s Remarketing and Ancillary Service Operations. PFS is the nation’s leading service provider of recovery management, skip tracing, and remarketing services to the auto finance and insurance services industry.
In his new position, Herman will report to Joe Mappes, chief revenue officer of Primeritus Financial Services, Inc., and will join the senior leadership team.
“Jason is a tenured operations executive with a proven track record in managing all aspects of the asset management lifecycle,” Mappes said. “He brings a substantial amount of expertise on a national level, manages remarketing teams, and builds out customized solutions for auto finance institutions. Furthermore, Jason’s deep knowledge and expertise in the financial services industry will be an asset to our company, partners, and customers.”
Herman comes to Primeritus with over two decades of asset remarketing experience from his years with U.S. Bank, where he began in 1999, and advanced to SVP, director of asset remarketing before leaving the bank for Mike Albert Leasing in 2019.
“I am excited to join the Primeritus family,” Herman said. “As both a previous customer and fellow consignor in the remarketing industry. I have always admired the innovation and expertise that Primeritus provides. I look forward to sharing my experiences in the banking, fleet, and financial services industries with the team. By utilizing the ideal remarketing channels to net the best returns for our clients, we can deliver every possible dollar, on every asset, every time.”
Spireon Appoints Executive
Staff Writer
February 23, 2021
Spireon announced the unification of its fleet and trailer product offerings into a combined transportation portfolio and appointed John Krumheuer as its president. A veteran sales leader with over 20 years’ experience in transportation technology, including senior roles with telematics and fleet management platform providers, Krumheuer takes the reins at a pivotal time to expand the business and drive future growth.
“John’s extensive knowledge of day-to-day fleet and trailer operations and wealth of experience problem solving on behalf of more than 3,500 clients throughout the course of his career make him a welcome addition to the Spireon executive team,” said Kevin Weiss, CEO of Spireon.
Krumheuer will guide market share growth of FleetLocate, Spireon’s solution suite for advanced trailer telematics, vehicle data and diagnostics. His role will encompass supporting strategic relationships with resellers and channel partners, as well as ensuring ongoing technology innovation.
“I’m excited to join the company during this crucial time and look forward to growing the already impressive customer base of over 20,000,” Krumheuer said.
An Army veteran, Krumheuer’s previous roles include senior vice president of sales for SmartDrive and vice president of sales and account management at PeopleNet, a Trimble company.
Mercedes-Benz Appoints VP
Staff Writer
February 22, 2021
Mercedes-Benz Vans USA announced the appointment of Nicolette Lambrechts to the position of Vice President and Managing Director Sales and Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Vans USA, effective May 1. In this role, she will lead all van business operations including the sales, marketing along with service and parts for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the United States. Lambrechts succeeds Robert Veit who will take over the position as Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Vans UK.
Lambrechts joined the MBUSA Vans team in October 2019 as the general manager for Mercedes-Benz Vans Sales. She first joined Mercedes-Benz South Africa in 2001 as a graduate trainee.
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DigniFi Names Chief Tech Officer
Staff Writer
February 12, 2021
DigniFi, an automotive financing platform, announced that Kevin Yu has been named Chief Technology Officer. Reporting to CEO Richard Counihan from Seattle, Yu will be responsible for growing DigniFi’s engineering organization, continuously improving product quality, and delivering innovations for customers and partners. Initially, Yu will focus on re-platforming DigniFi to improve the scalability and dynamism of Expressway, a revolving credit line that helps consumers afford auto repairs, upgrades, accessories, and trade-ins.
Yu joins DigniFi with more than 20 years of experience leading engineering teams at high-growth startups in the Seattle area. He most recently served as CTO of JAXJOX, a fitness technology company, and as co-founder and CTO of Markedly, which helps B2B startups optimize product-market fit.
He began his career with Microsoft, where he worked for 12 years.
Yu holds four degrees: an MBA from University of Washington, a master’s in engineering from University of Maryland College Park, a master’s in management science from China’s Peking University, and a bachelor’s in computer science from Beijing Institute of Technology.
Fleet Provider Announces Promotion
Staff Writer
February 10, 2021
Mike Albert Fleet Solutions has promoted Nate Shadoin to director, sales & fleet electrification. The new position was created to help fleet clients achieve their sustainability goals and improve their ROI with electric vehicles.
“We’re excited that EVs and fleet electrification initiatives have become top of mind for businesses and government agencies who have carbon footprint reduction initiatives and want a lower total cost of ownership,” said Shadoin. “We’re proud to lead in this growing segment of the industry and help our clients realize the benefits of a zero-emission fleet.”
Shadoin joined Mike Albert Fleet Solutions in 2015.
“Nate is an unshaken leader in his belief in electric vehicles and the long-term value they can deliver to its owners and our environment,” says Jeff Hart, president at Mike Albert. “Through experience and continuous research, he has acquired extensive knowledge of the vehicles, batteries and charging solutions, as well as the monetization of incentives, grants and tax credits. He is a true champion of electrification.”
Shadoin, a lifelong sports car, racing, and auto industry enthusiast, attended Butler University in Indianapolis, the hometown of the Indianapolis 500. He’s now based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Unite Digital Expands Platform, Adds Execs
Staff Writer
February 10, 2021
Unite Digital LLC, a digital marketing company that focuses on OEM certified dealer digital programs, announced the expansion of its Unite CONNECT platform and the hiring of automotive digital retailing veterans, Dave Zuchowski and James Casazza, as chief strategy officer and chief innovation officer, respectively.
Unite CONNECT is a flexible and customizable lead management and data insights platform built to incorporate the latest advances in technology and intelligent automation. It was built to handle the ways consumers expect to connect with dealerships today, expanding beyond email and phone response, to include text and messaging platforms in one unified interface.
"Unite CONNECT helps OEs and dealerships attract and identify more customers, customize their interactions and unite their data across tiers," said Stacey Coopes, founder and CEO of Unite Digital. "For example, with our platform, OEs capture and personalize communication to 10 times more customers than older technology in use by most certified digital programs today."
Unite CONNECT is being used by Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) in its MiDIGITALSOLUTIONS certified digital program, a comprehensive suite of digital marketing services and solutions managed by Unite Digital for the growing U.S. network of Mitsubishi Motors dealer partners.
Michigan IADA Plans Golf Outing
Staff Writer
February 04, 2021
The Michigan Independent Automobile Dealers Association is hosting a golf outing this summer at Cherry Creek Golf Course in Shelby Township, Mich.
The Aug. 23 outing replaces the association’s 2020 dinner dance. At the golf outing, the association will award its state Quality Dealer of the Year award. The association will also draw the winners of its annual raffle, with a $5,000 first prize, $1,000 for second prize and $500 for third.
The MIADA is looking for sponsorships for this event. Those interested should contact the Michigan IADA.
