Cox Automotive has employed Michele Parks as its subsequent chief folks officer, succeeding Janet Barnard, who’s retiring.

The Atlanta-based dealership providers firm stated Parks, who beforehand labored as senior vp of HR service supply at Cox Communications, will report back to Cox Automotive President Steve Rowley.

“I am excited that Michele selected to affix us as a result of I imagine she’s the proper chief to proceed the evolution of the workforce,” Rowley said in a statement this week. “She’ll be certain that the workforce’s imaginative and prescient and capabilities proceed to maintain tempo with our fast-moving enterprise, which might be particularly vital as we proceed implementing our strategic development plan.”

Barnard, 62, an government vp, will retire at the end of the month, the corporate stated in March. Barnard labored at Cox for greater than 15 years, together with at Cox Communications and as president of the Manheim wholesale public sale unit.

Parks has a background at Walt Disney World Resorts and Constitution Communications and joined Cox in 2006, the corporate stated.

Rowley, who succeeded Sandy Schwartz on the helm of Cox Automotive final 12 months, informed Automotive Information earlier this 12 months that the company will pursue growth because it focuses on efforts round digital acceleration and knowledge insights.