From the editor: Women continue to fill prominent automotive executive roles, which is awesome

Likely not quite a few folks would dispute the issue that Cox Automotive has large of range of sources. Any one who walked as a result of the expo corridor at NADA Display 2022 could practically see that with their personal eyes.

As a consequence of those sources, we right here at Cherokee Media Team get various messages routinely from the Cox Automotive loved ones regardless of whether it’s the most up-to-date figures involving accredited pre-owned profits, wholesale price ranges or credit history availability.

When a further of people messages arrived late this week, a ingredient of it straight away caught my attention. The information release declared that Cox Automotive Retail Answers created several essential adjustments to its management staff.

And all five executives talked about in the announcement had been gals.

To mimic longtime sports activities broadcaster Tim Brando, “How about that?!”

In accordance to that news release, Cox Automotive Retail Solutions president Lori Wittman claimed among the the variations, Mandi Fang becames the new senior vice president of consumer operations and Tracy Noonan Fred becames the new senior vice president of dealer answers. Equally will now report instantly to Wittman.

Signing up for Wittman’s staff is Cheryl Miller, who will continue in her role as vice president of lender methods. Jessica Stafford carries on to report to Wittman in her function as SVP of buyer alternatives but will now lead the merged shopper marketing electrical power of Seller.com, Autotrader, and Kelley Blue E book inside of Cox Automotive’s Retail group.

“With these promotions and alignments, Cox Automotive Retail Solutions is poised to guide our customers confidently into this new era of automotive retailing,” Wittman stated in the information release. “This leadership team’s practical experience, perseverance, and passion will fuel the transformation of the automotive marketplace and drive bigger success for our clientele and partners.”

Definitely, this new era of automotive retailing includes the know-how these 5 women of all ages oversee for Cox Automotive. But it’s also a new period for what it’s like at the very least at dealerships. In several retailers, prolonged gone are the stereotypes in the highlight of these vendor commercials from a decade in the past wherever the advertisement hook was “Tired of having badgered?”

In a single of the places, the badger — characterised to be a chauvinistic male salesperson down to the plaid activity coat — quips to the possible customer who was female, “there’s the rearview mirror wherever you can set on your makeup!”

Forward-considering dealerships and significant companies these as Cox Automotive definitely are not the only industry stores lifting girls to their well-deserved spot in leadership. Celebrating that development is element of the rationale why we Cherokee Media Team designed some of the awards applications we’ve orchestrated for quite a few many years now. They incorporate Girls in Remarketing, Women of all ages in Retail, Girls in Vehicle Finance and new this 12 months, Females in Collections and Recoveries.

All the most recent honorees will be celebrated for the duration of Utilized Vehicle Week, which begins Nov. 14 in San Diego. Most likely you can make the journey to wonderful southern California during the 7 days before Thanksgiving to satisfy them in human being and listen to their tales about how they flourished to their respective positions.

In that most current news launch from Cox Automotive, what Wittman stated about her govt crew rings real about a host of women in automotive management these days.

“These women were purposefully picked for their progressive concepts and inclusive means of motivating their teams to reach aims, streamline procedures and leverage technologies to develop a reliable, seamless client practical experience,” Wittman reported.

Nick Zulovich is senior editor with Cherokee Media Team and can be attained at [email protected].