INDUSTRY NEWS
The AAM Group named Sharon Cameron its new business analyst. Cameron most recently served as AAM’s product data specialist and will now focus on purchasing reports and predictions, product compliance reporting, and PRO Rebates tracking. Cameron is the third member of AAM’s vendor-relations team, including Vice President of Vendor Relations and Purchasing John DeBalso and Vendor Relations Manager Mark Franchetti. The group conducts regular reviews with distribution members, facilitates member-supplier conversations, holds monthly purchasing calls, and evaluates brands to identify growth areas.
P&E Distributors Inc. announced the hiring of Don Dolan as its new vice president of sales, responsible for managing overall sales functions, including wholesale B2B, retail B2C marketplace platforms, and its Tennessee Speed Sport retail store. Before joining P&E, Dolan spent his career in sales and marketing, most recently with Driver Industrial and the Covert Track Group.
Formula DRIFT announced that Vice President Ryan Sage will assume the role of president of Formula DRIFT Holdings LLC as Jim Liaw moves to his new position at Performance Racing Industry (PRI). Liaw will remain a Formula DRIFT board member, focusing on the company’s international and federation relationships, including the FIA Drifting Commission. Sage, who cofounded Formula DRIFT with Liaw, served as vice president since 2004.
Wrisco Industries, a manufacturer of prefinished aluminum sheets, anodized aluminum, steel coil and related components, was acquired by Wieland Metal Services, a copper and copper alloy specialist. Wrisco Industries was founded in 1916, is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and operates four distribution centers out of Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and Edison, New Jersey. The business will continue to operate under the Wrisco name after its integration into the Wieland Group.
NASCAR announced that John Ferguson was hired to lead human resources strategy for the sanctioning body as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. In that role, Ferguson will oversee NASCAR human resources and provide strategic leadership around talent acquisition, employee engagement and culture development. For nearly a decade, Ferguson served in HR roles at Monumental Sports & Entertainment in Washington, D.C., and, most recently, as vice president of People & Culture. Based in the Daytona Beach office in Florida, Ferguson will help develop HR strategies designed to support and engage employees across more than 20 offices and racetrack locations in the United States.
John Force Racing hired Ted Van Zelst as chief commercial officer. In his new role, Van Zelst will be responsible for creating new partnerships, enhancing business-to-business relationships with existing partners, and developing successful activation. Van Zelst joins John Force Racing with 25 years of experience, most recently serving as the president/CEO of Zeker Solutions, a consulting agency. He has also held senior leadership positions with NASCAR, the Detroit Pistons, WWE and the New York Islanders.
Kinderhook Industries LLC announced the sale of ProCare Collision to Classic Collision. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. ProCare is a nationally recognized, state-of-the-art collision repair company that operates 45 auto body repair shops serving Austin, San Antonio and Houston, Texas. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to ProCare, and Henson & Efron, P.A., provided legal counsel to Classic in the transaction.
Fuelab announced a new partnership with ASAP Trading USA—a sales and marketing agency with offices in San Diego, California, and Lima, Peru. Fuelab President and Founder Brian Paitz announced the news. ASAP Trading USA may now represent, promote and sell Fuelab products as its exclusive authorized sales representative for Mexico as well as Central and South America.
Driven Brands Holdings announced that Matt Meier is joining the company as EVP, chief digital and data officer. This newly created position will oversee the company’s digital and data strategies, working closely with IT and marketing to transform data into actionable business insights and leading the digital customer experience. Meier brings more than 25 years of experience across a variety of industries and disciplines within the IT, digital and data domains. He will report directly to CEO Jonathan Fitzpatrick.
Robert (Bob) Lee was appointed the new CEO of Automotive Technologies Continental North America on January 1, 2022. He succeeds Samir Salman, who will retire after serving more than 27 years in the industry. Lee also will remain president of Continental North America, with responsibility for leading customer, governmental and other external relationships across the region. Lee first joined Continental in 2014 as the president and CEO of Continental Automotive Korea, where he led overall operations in the country.
Asbury Automotive Group Inc. said that it will pay $3.2 billion to buy the Larry H. Miller Dealerships group, one of the largest privately owned dealership groups. The deal includes 54 new-vehicle dealerships, seven used-vehicle dealerships, 11 collision centers, and Total Care Auto. The Georgia-based retailer said that it will help to diversify the company’s western presence by entering six new states. Asbury said that the acquisition would add $5.7 billion to its annual revenues.
