Marc Cannon was appointed Executive Vice President – Chief Customer Experience Officer, on April 29, 2020. Prior to that appointment, Mr. Cannon served as our Chief Marketing Officer, Executive Vice President of Brand Marketing, Customer Service, AutoNation.com, Communications & Public Policy from January 2017 through April 2020. Mr. Cannon is responsible for creating and developing a seamless experience for Customers throughout their entire ownership journey.
Mr. Cannon previously served as our Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications. Mr. Cannon is an innovative leader with more than 30 years of experience in establishing brands, addressing digital disruption, driving corporate social responsibility, and crisis management. Through his tenure, Mr. Cannon has helped develop customer-focused digital experiences and has been involved in strategic planning in technology as it relates to the Customer experience for the company. Notably, he also directs the company’s broad range of communications – to investors, to the industry, to the media, and the marketplace.
Mr. Cannon has been instrumental in the growth of AutoNation into the country’s largest and most successful automotive retailer. In particular, he supervised the brand launch of AutoNation’s Coast-to-Coast initiative and was part of the executive team that launched AutoNation Express, the company’s industry-leading transactional digital platform, which seamlessly integrates the customer’s in-store and online experience. Mr. Cannon also spearheads the company’s multi-year mission to raise funds to fight cancer, and he has successfully positioned the company as the leading voice in automotive retail.
Prior to joining AutoNation, he served as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice president of Marketing for Blue Dot Services, a national network of home repair and services contractors. He had previously served as Vice President of Internal Communications for Republic Industries, Vice President of Marketing, Advertising and Communications for AutoNation USA, and Vice President of Advertising for Alamo Rent A Car. In his time with Alamo, Marc was part of the team that grew the company from 15 locations to more than 100 locations nationwide and expanded the company to Europe. He also helped develop the “Where all the miles are free” campaign, a pioneering advertising and operational effort that changed the way vehicles are rented in the United States.
Mr. Cannon has a bachelor’s degree in public affairs from the University of Miami. He is a member of the Arthur Page Society, the most distinguished honor society in the communications industry, and he serves on the University of Florida Public Relations Advisory Council. He is on the Board of Directors of the Automotive Hall of Fame and was honored by Automotive News with the All-Stars Award for Public Relations/ Communications, the only recipient from an automotive retailer to be granted this honor.