FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan 04, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- AutoNation, Inc.
(NYSE: AN), America's largest automotive retailer, announced today that it has
appointed Michael J. Short as executive vice president and chief financial
officer effective January 15, 2007. Short, 45, joins AutoNation from
Universal Orlando where he has served as chief financial officer since 2000.
Short will report to Mike Jackson, AutoNation's chairman and chief executive
officer.
"AutoNation is looking forward to having a seasoned finance executive of
Mike's caliber join our team," said Jackson. "He brings AutoNation both
financial and strategic experience that will enhance our corporate
initiatives. Mike's professionalism, insight and expertise are what our
customers, associates and shareholders can count on for continued success here
at AutoNation."
In addition to his role at Universal Orlando, Short served in finance and
corporate development positions at Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc. and IBM
Corporation. Before that, he was a helicopter pilot and tactics instructor
for the United States Navy, based out of Norfolk, Virginia. He holds an MBA
from Columbia University in New York and a bachelor's degree from the United
States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Short will succeed Alex McAllister, who has served as the interim chief
financial officer of AutoNation since September 1, 2006. McAllister also
serves as vice president -- corporate controller of AutoNation and will
continue to serve in this role until March 31, 2007 (or earlier upon the
appointment of a new corporate controller), when he is expected to retire from
AutoNation.
"We greatly appreciate Alex McAllister's service to AutoNation," said
Jackson. "Alex has served the company well in the role of interim chief
financial officer. Alex has also been a great asset of the company during his
tenure as corporate controller for the last six years, playing a key role in
our effort to bring greater transparency and clarity to our financial
reporting over this time period."
ABOUT AUTONATION, INC.
AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America's
largest automotive retailer and a component of the Standard and Poor's 500
Index. AutoNation has approximately 27,000 full-time employees and owns and
operates 334 new vehicle franchises in 16 states. For additional information,
please visit http://corp.AutoNation.com or http://www.AutoNation.com, where
more than 100,000 vehicles are available for sale.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements and information included in this release constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Additional discussion
of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
management's projections, estimates and expectations is contained in the
Company's SEC filings. The Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-
looking statements, including its earnings outlook.
SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.
Marc Cannon of AutoNation, Inc.
+1-954-769-3146