Management

H. Wayne Huizenga, founder of AutoNation retired from the company to focus on his private entrepreneurial activities on May 12, 2004.

Mr. Huizenga and his vision provided the driving force behind the formation and rapid growth of his company. Moreover, it was his recognition that consumers expected and deserved better from automotive retailers that allowed us to set the standard of excellence for the industry. We will always value his guidance and insight.

We are dedicated to continuing his commitment to transform our industry, providing our customers and shareholders the performance they expect from the industry leader.

Michael Manley has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors since November 2021. Prior to joining AutoNation, Mr. Manley served as Head of Americas and as a member of the Group Executive Council for Stellantis N.V., one of the largest automotive original equipment manufacturers in the world, from January 2021 until October 2021. From July 2018 until January 2021, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (“FCA”), a predecessor to Stellantis N.V. Mr. Manley joined DaimlerChrysler (a predecessor to FCA) in 2000 and, prior to becoming FCA’s Chief Executive Officer, served in a number of management-level roles with increasing responsibility overseeing various aspects of FCA’s operations, including as Executive Vice President - International Sales & Marketing, Business Development and Global Product Planning Operations, Chief Executive Officer of Jeep, Chief Executive Officer of Ram, Chief Operating Officer for the Asia Pacific region, and FCA Global Executive Council member.

Mr. Manley holds a Master of Business Administration from Ashridge Management College (Ashridge, England) and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Southbank University (London).

Jeffrey W. Butler Jr. has been President of AutoNation Finance since 2022. 

Most recently, Mr. Butler served as President of CIG Financial. Prior to being promoted to President, he opened the East Coast markets in Florida and Georgia and became Vice President of Originations, where he directed day-to-day operations in all areas of production.

Mr. Butler has over 25 years of financial services experience in consumer lending and dealer operations.  Throughout his career, Mr. Butler has worked for both public and private companies varying in size and stages of development. 

Previously Mr. Butler was Central Financial Director, Florida Region at AutoNation. He has also held several positions at Long Beach Acceptance/AmeriCredit as AVP, Regional Sales Manager & AVP, Regional Credit Manager, in addition to working at Cars Unimited Finance.

Mr. Butler also served in the U.S. Navy, holding a special security clearance while working at the National Security Agency.  Mr. Butler has a B.A. in Business Administration.

Gianluca Camplone, has been Chief Operating Officer Precision Parts Business, and Executive Vice President, Head of Mobility, Business Strategy, and Development since March 2022. Mr. Camplone is responsible for overseeing the Company's business strategy, corporate development, and Precision Parts teams.

Mr. Camplone joined AutoNation from McKinsey & Company, where he most recently served as a Senior Partner and leader of the Advanced Industries global practice and the Private Equity Industrial practice in North America. Mr. Camplone orchestrated a company-wide $1 billion digital business building program and has spearheaded a global team on a $200 billion merger in the automotive sector. He has led a major dealer performance transformation at a leading North American commercial vehicle manufacturer. Additionally, Mr. Camplone redesigned the multi-billion dollar used car business and multichannel environment for a global auto manufacturer.

Mr. Camplone holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Bologna – Bologna Business School and a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Bologna.

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.

Coleman Edmunds has served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since April 2017. Mr. Edmunds serves as the Chairman of the company’s Employee Benefits Committee and is a member of the company’s Business Ethics Committee and Risk Review Committee. From October 2007 to March 2017, Mr. Edmunds served as our Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. Prior to joining AutoNation, Mr. Edmunds was in private practice with the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie.

As chief legal advisor for the company, Mr. Edmunds oversees all aspects of AutoNation's legal affairs, including securities law, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, litigation, compliance, manufacturer relations and government relations. He also serves as the Corporate Secretary of the company and the chief legal advisor to the Board of Directors. Mr. Edmunds joined AutoNation in November 1996.

Mr. Edmunds holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia, a law degree from the University of Richmond, and a masters of law degree (taxation) from the University of Miami. Mr. Edmunds currently serves, or has served, on various industry, civic and charitable boards and committees, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the National Automobile Dealers Association, Florida Automobile Dealers Association, the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and the Orange Bowl Committee.

Lisa Esparza has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer since September 2022. Ms. Esparza is an accomplished global human resources executive with expertise in business partnerships, talent management, organizational effectiveness, diversity, and inclusion, integration and transformation. Most recently, as Chief Human Resources Officer of Essilor North America, Ms. Esparza led all activities for human resources, diversity & inclusion, as well as facilities, and environmental, health & safety.

Prior to that, Ms. Esparza was Chief Human Resources Officer at Par Pacific Holdings, Inc., an oil & gas company with refinery operations, logistics, and retail convenience stores. She was responsible for driving critical HR processes throughout the organization and leveraging HR to accomplish key business objectives, integrate new acquisitions, and implement cultural and organizational change. In addition, Ms. Esparza has held HR leadership roles at Celanese, Flowserve, Ingersoll-Rand and Eaton with global responsibilities.

Ms. Esparza holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Law from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dave Koehler has been Chief Operating Officer, Non-Franchised Business since 2022, overseeing AutoNation USA, AutoNation Auto Auctions, and the AutoNation Collision business. Previously, Mr. Koehler was the Eastern Region President for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. Prior to being promoted to Region President in 2019, Mr. Koehler held several key positions within AutoNation, including General Manager, Market President and Senior Vice President of Sales. With over 30 years of automotive retail experience, Mr. Koehler has a strong foundation in the automotive business. He has created a culture of engaged Teammates, driven to provide Customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Mr. Koehler is an avid boater and enjoys volunteering at many of the AutoNation cancer-related events from coast-to-coast.

Steve Kwak has been Chief Operating Officer, Franchised Business since 2022, overseeing all activities and teams related to the new car franchise operations, manufacturer relations, Customer Financial Services, and After-Sales operations. Previously, Mr. Kwak was the Western Region President for Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Washington. Prior to being promoted to Region President, Mr. Kwak held roles as Market President for the Los Angeles County, Nevada, and Orange County Markets. He brings over 20 years of success in the automotive retail space.

Mr. Kwak has a long history with AutoNation from joining the Company as a Sales Manager and has worked his way up through being a General Manager at several of our Acura, Chevrolet and Mercedes Benz stores. He was also formerly an operating partner of his own Audi and Toyota dealerships. Mr. Kwak has served several terms as a Board Member for the California New Car Dealers Association.

Joe Lower is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AutoNation, America's largest automotive retailer and a Fortune 150 company. In this role, Mr. Lower is a member of the company's executive committee and has responsibility for all financial functions, the company's Shared Service Center and its corporate strategy.

Lower most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Office Depot, Inc. In this role, Lower was responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the company, including financial planning and analysis, accounting and financial reporting, as well as managing the tax, internal audit, treasury and investor relations functions.

Prior to Office Depot, Lower served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at B/E Aerospace, Inc. where he oversaw all the financial reporting for the company. Lower also spent 12 years at The Boeing Company, where he served as Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. Among other finance positions, Lower spent six years with Credit Suisse in various investment banking roles including positions in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.

Lower earned a Master of Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

Christian Treiber has served as President, After-Sales since January 2023. Mr. Treiber is responsible for overseeing the corporate After-Sales teams and integrating strategic initiatives that align with Company’s After-Sales growth plan.

Mr. Treiber is a seasoned automotive executive with 30 years of experience across varying segments of the automotive industry, including at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler, as well as in a startup environment at Canoo. Mr. Treiber has managed teams of up to 800 employees, multi-billion-dollar budgets, and revenue responsibility while also having first-hand responsibility for building an After-Sales department and the entire digital customer journey from scratch.

Mr. Treiber’s extensive experience in Customer service and operational excellence, combined with a data-driven mindset and focus on people, processes, and communication, has enabled him to develop a track record of success in different roles with increasing responsibility.

Mr. Treiber is driven by the ability to drive change and have a measurable impact. Mr. Treiber holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing and Economics from Verwaltungs- & Wirtschaftsakademie in Essen, Germany.