Auto Plus Announces Appointment Of Executive Team Under Icahn Enterprises Ownership

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Auto Plus Announces Appointment Of Executive Team Under Icahn Enterprises Ownership

Brent Windom, president and CEO of Auto Plus, has announced the appointments of several key individuals to the leadership team.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
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KENNESAW, Ga. — Auto Plus President and Chief Executive Officer, Brent Windom, announced the appointments of several key individuals to the leadership team.

“We are beginning a new phase of growth with the support of Icahn Enterprises,” said Windom. “We are a strong and profitable, customer focused company with strong technological capabilities and an aggressive growth plan. The aftermarket parts industry is expected to expand significantly over the next five years. So I am very pleased we were able to attract top talent in key leadership positions after our acquisition by Icahn Enterprises in June was finalized. Now our team is well-poised to pursue Auto Plus’ aggressive growth strategy.”

In June, Icahn Enterprises completed its previously announced acquisition of substantially all of Uni-Select USA, Inc.’s and Beck/Arnley Worldparts Inc.’s assets, which supported the U.S. automotive parts distribution business of Uni-Select Inc. (TSX: UNS). The transaction included 38 distribution centers and satellite locations, 240 corporately owned jobber stores and more than 3,500 employees in the United States. Icahn Enterprises retained the Auto Plus brand name and Brent Windom was named president and CEO of Auto Plus.

Windom announced the following new appointments to the Auto Plus executive team:

Mike Englert has been named chief financial officer of Auto Plus. Englert previously served as vice president, finance for the company. In this new role, Englert will oversee all financial functions of Auto Plus. Prior to joining Auto Plus, Englert, a Certified Public Accountant, served in Ernst and Young’s audit practice.

Mike Englert has been named chief financial officer of Auto Plus. Englert previously served as vice president, finance for the company. In this new role, Englert will oversee all financial functions of Auto Plus. Prior to joining Auto Plus, Englert, a Certified Public Accountant, served in Ernst and Young’s audit practice.

Gary Desai was named chief information officer (CIO) of the organization, bringing to Auto Plus more than 30 years of Information Technology (IT) leadership and expertise. Desai will oversee all IT functions in this new role. Before his move to Auto Plus, Desai served as senior vice president, CIO, vice president, IT and Business Transformation and Director of Information Services for various organizations in the automobile industry.

Matt Flannery has been appointed general counsel. In this new role, Flannery will oversee all legal matters for Auto Plus. Flannery joins Auto Plus from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he served as senior counsel. Prior to Goodyear, Flannery held the positions of senior litigation counsel at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and associate counsel for Jones Day law firm. He brings more than 20 years of legal experience to the company.

Pete Bednarzyk was named senior vice president, supply chain. In his new role, Bednarzyk will manage all aspects of product flow, from manufacturers, to Auto Plus and its customers. Prior to his appointment, Bednarzyk served as senior director, supply chain for Home Depot. His more than 20 years of experience also includes supply chain management positions for Office Depot and FedEx.

Elizabeth Johnson will serve as vice president of human resources. Johnson is a 20-year human resource practitioner, holding management positions with companies such as Anheuser-Busch and Uni-Select prior to Auto Plus.

“These individuals will help us support the organization during our time of expansion through acquisitions and organic growth,” says Windom. “Our appointed executive team is comprised of industry experts and leaders who will be integral to the continued success of Auto Plus.”

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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