AutoNation Inc. government Marc Cannon plans to go away his place as chief buyer expertise officer, shift to a short-term philanthropic function for the auto retailer after which retire at year-end.

Richard Lennox, a former division retailer, toy firm and jewellery retailer advertising and marketing government, was named AutoNation’s CMO, efficient Might 15, the retailer additionally introduced.

“It was only a excellent time for me to resolve to complete up,” Cannon, 61, a 27-year AutoNation veteran, instructed Automotive Information.

AutoNation disclosed the information on Monday. In an e-mail to staff shared with Automotive Information, CEO Mike Manley credited Cannon with being a key participant in AutoNation’s improvement.

“It goes with out saying that after a few years at AutoNation, [Cannon] has been instrumental within the firm’s development,” Manley wrote.

Going again to at the very least 2017, Cannon served as CMO of AutoNation, earlier than being named to the newly created place of chief buyer expertise officer in 2020. The function added oversight of expertise to ongoing duties heading up advertising and marketing and promoting, model, e-commerce, buyer relations and communications.

A key focus for Cannon was serving to AutoNation develop digital buyer experiences and taking part in strategic planning for expertise on this space.

“We have made large progress,” he stated.

These successes embrace a relaunch of the AutoNation Categorical digital platform in December and the debut of the AutoNation GPS buyer relationship administration device this 12 months, Cannon stated.

He’ll transition Might 15 into a brand new function centered on company duty revolving round AutoNation’s Drive Pink philanthropic and neighborhood actions.

“I at all times inform individuals there are three issues which can be most vital to me … my household, God and [the Drive Pink initiative], and what may very well be higher to find a way for the remainder of this 12 months [than] to assist drive our philanthropic and social duty?” Cannon stated.

Lennox has been chief buyer and model officer at Macy’s since January 2020 the place he helped drive development methods. He was named Macy’s CMO in August 2016, based on his LinkedIn profile. Earlier than that, Lennox was CMO at Toys R Us and Zales, AutoNation’s announcement acknowledged.

AutoNation credit Lennox with having “a observe file of profitable enterprise turnarounds and elevated shareholder worth” in addition to expertise driving development and main “transformational change.” Lennox brings greater than 30 years of brand name and advertising and marketing expertise to the auto retailer.

In his hiring announcement, Manley stated Lennox’s expertise will assist “prolong our model and leverage our scale” as AutoNation grows.

“He leads transformational change to construct refined good data-driven advertising and marketing fashions, rising the productiveness of promoting funding,” Manley added.

Within the first quarter of this 12 months, AutoNation noticed declines in internet revenue, general income and automobile gross sales, however these outcomes had been partially offset with positive factors in new-vehicle and elements and repair income.

AutoNation, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., ranks No. 2 on Automotive Information‘ listing of the highest 150 dealership teams primarily based within the U.S., with retail gross sales of 229,971 new autos in 2022.