Board of Directors

Mike Jackson is widely regarded as one the most influential and effective automotive business leaders of our generation. Over the course of a career spanning nearly five decades, he has earned a reputation as a relentless innovator, with many of the initiatives he championed becoming bedrock practices across the industry today. In particular, he is known as a driving force behind retailers’ adoption of contemporary operating practices, including their embrace of online platforms, advanced technology, environmentally responsible engineering and customer-first service processes, among others.

In acknowledgement of his accomplishments, he has been widely honored by industry peers, journalists, the business community, academic institutions, philanthropic organizations and beyond. Among his most notable recognitions, he has been:

• Honored as CEO of the Year by CEO magazine, 2006
• Listed by Automotive News as one of the Fifty Visionary Dealers of all time, 2009
• Named one of the top 50 Global Business Leaders in 2011 by Fortune magazine
• Received National Retail Leadership Award by the Detroit Free Press in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show, 2011
• Bestowed honorary doctorate from the Livingstone College, 2011
• Inducted into the Wayne Huizenga School of Business Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, 2010
• Named eleven-time member of the Automotive News “All-Star Team” of automotive executives
• Granted the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, presented to Americans who overcome adversity to achieve success, 2014
• Inducted in to the Saint Joseph’s University’s Haub School of Business Hall of Fame, 2015
• Received the Saint Joseph’s University Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award, 2015
• Appointed Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Board of Directors, 2018
• Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, 2018
• Ranked by Motor Trend magazine as number seven on the 2019 Power List for being a “Game Changer” in the Automotive landscape

In addition to these accolades, he is widely sought after as a speaker and media personality for his thoughts on the auto industry in particular and the wider economy in general. He has presented his views on energy policy, U.S. economic policy and domestic policy at the William J. Clinton School of Public Policy, the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the North American International Powertrain Conference and the NADA OESA conference. He is a special contributor to the CNBC, Fox and Bloomberg business news networks.

Many of his most distinguished honors came during his tenure as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AutoNation, the company he guided for nearly 20 years. Under his direction, AutoNation strengthened its position as the largest automotive retailer in America – in fact, the largest auto retailer in the history of American car sales – with a list of milestones and metrics that are testimony to its unprecedented scale and influence.

In particular, the company is the first and only automotive retailer to have sold 12 million vehicles. It is the only automotive retailer to be named America’s Most Admired Automotive Retailer by Fortune Magazine six times. And the first to introduce customer-focused efforts such as a green vehicle identification program, a truly transparent financing process and a full-spectrum online car shopping experience across a national dealership network.

His success at AutoNation represents the realization of Mr. Jackson’s vision for a retail environment that combines the potential of today’s advanced technology with the best practices from a broad range of retail industries. The end result has been a thorough transformation of what it means to buy, sell and service vehicles for millions of Americans in markets from coast to coast.

This vision had its roots even earlier in his career. Prior to his role at AutoNation, Mr. Jackson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, overseeing the German automaker’s U.S. sales operation and 311 franchised dealerships. In that role, he developed operational, sales and service strategies that led directly to the luxury vehicle brand’s rejuvenation in the U.S. He also has served as chairman of the Mercedes-Benz National Dealer Council. Fittingly, it was at a Mercedes-Benz dealership that Mr. Jackson began his automotive career, starting as a technician for a dealership before advancing to management positions.

Mr. Jackson attended Saint Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, earning his degree in political science in 1971. He is married to Alice Lucia-Jackson and has three children, Michael, Kristina and Lauren.

Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr. has served as one of our directors since April 2019 and is a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. He is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc., an NYSE-listed lodging real estate investment trust, since January 2017. Between May 2016 and January 2017, Mr. Baltimore was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the planned Hilton Real Estate Investment Trust. Previously, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of RLJ Lodging Trust, an NYSE-listed real estate investment company, from May 2011 to May 2016. He served as Co-Founder and President of RLJ Development, LLC, RLJ Lodging’s predecessor company, from 2000 to May 2011. He served in various management positions with Hilton Hotels Corporation and Host Marriott Services between 1994 and 2000. Mr. Baltimore also serves on the boards of Prudential Financial, Inc., the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO), and The Real Estate Roundtable. He previously served as a director of Duke Realty Corporation, RLJ Lodging Trust, and Integra Life Sciences.

Rick L. Burdick has served as one of our directors since May 1991 and as our Lead Independent Director since December 2018. He is a member of its Compensation Committee. Mr. Burdick also serves as Lead Independent Director of CBIZ, Inc., a provider of outsourced business services to small and medium-sized companies in the United States. From 1988 through 2019, Mr. Burdick was a partner with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., a global full service law firm.

David B. Edelson has served as a Director of the Company since July 2008 and chairs the Board's Audit Committee. Mr. Edelson is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Loews Corporation (NYSE: L), a diversified holding company with subsidiaries in the property-casualty insurance, offshore drilling, natural gas transmission and storage, natural gas exploration and production, and lodging industries. He joined Loews in May 2005 and became its Chief Financial Officer in May 2014. Prior to joining Loews, Mr. Edelson was Executive Vice President & Corporate Treasurer of JPMorgan Chase & Co. He was named Corporate Treasurer in April 2001 and promoted to Executive Vice President in February 2003. Mr. Edelson spent the first 15 years of his career as an investment banker, first with Goldman Sachs & Co. and subsequently with JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Steven L. Gerard has served as one of our directors since April 2019 and is a member of the Board’s Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of CBIZ, Inc., a provider of integrated business services and products, from October 2000 until his retirement in March 2016, and he continues to serve as the Chairman of its Board of Directors, a position he has held since October 2002. Mr. Gerard was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Great Point Capital, Inc., a provider of operational and advisory services, from 1997 to October 2000. From 1991 to 1997, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Triangle Wire & Cable, Inc. and its successor Ocean View Capital, Inc. Mr. Gerard’s prior experience includes 16 years with Citibank, N.A. in various senior corporate finance and banking positions. Further, Mr. Gerard served 7 years with the American Stock Exchange, where he last served as Vice President of the Securities Division. Mr. Gerard also serves on the Board of Directors of Lennar Corporation and Las Vegas Sands Corp. He served as a director of Joy Global, Inc. from 2001 until 2017, when it was acquired by Komatsu Mining Corp. Mr. Gerard has been recognized as an NACD Board Leadership Fellow.

Robert R. Grusky has served as a Director of the Company since June 2006 and chairs the Board's Finance Committee. In 2000, Mr. Grusky founded Hope Capital Management, LLC, an investment management firm for which he serves as Managing Member. He co-founded New Mountain Capital, LLC, a private equity and public equity investment management firm, in 2000 and was a Principal, Managing Director and Member of New Mountain Capital from 2000 to 2005 and has been a Senior Advisor since then. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Grusky served as President of RSL Investments Corporation, the primary investment vehicle for the Hon. Ronald S. Lauder. Prior thereto, Mr. Grusky served in a variety of capacities at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in its Mergers & Acquisitions Department and Principal Investment Area. Mr. Grusky is a director of Strayer Education, Inc., an education services company. From August 2008 to December 2012 he served as a director of AutoZone, Inc.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has served as a Director of the Company since February 2020 and is a member of the Board’s Audit Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Since December 2014, she has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Celebrity Cruises, a multi-billion dollar cruise line and wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL). Previously, Ms. Lutoff-Perlo was the Executive Vice President, Operations of Royal Caribbean International from 2012 to 2014; Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations of Celebrity Cruises from 2007 to 2012; and Vice President, Onboard Revenue of Celebrity Cruises from 2005 to 2007. Ms. Lutoff-Perlo held various senior positions with Royal Caribbean International from 1985 to 2005. She actively participates in and lends her leadership to a number of regional, national and international philanthropic and women’s organizations and has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the travel industry, the South Florida business community, gender equality, and diversity and inclusion.

G. Mike Mikan has served as one of our directors since March 2013 and chairs the Board’s Compensation Committee. Mr. Mikan is Chief Executive Officer and President of Bright Health, a diversified consumer-focused health care and technology company, providing a broad range of innovative health care products and services for consumers and care providers in local markets throughout the U.S. From January 2019 to April 2020, Mr. Mikan served as Vice Chairman and President of Bright Health, Inc. Mr. Mikan served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shot-Rock Capital, LLC, a private investment capital group, from January 2015 to December 2018. From January 2013 until December 2014, he served as President of ESL Investments, Inc. Mr. Mikan served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Best Buy Co., Inc. from April 2012 until September 2012. From November 1998 through February 2012, he served in various executive positions at UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealth’s Optum subsidiary. Mr. Mikan serves as a director of Princeton Private Investments Access Fund and as a Trustee of Ellington Income Opportunities Fund.

Jacqueline A. Travisano has served as one of our directors since April 2018 and chairs the Board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. She is the Executive Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Miami, a private research university. From 2011 to 2017, Ms. Travisano served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Nova Southeastern University.