April 11, 2011 (Burlington, VT) – Dealer.com,
the global leader in automotive internet marketing solutions, today
announced that automotive e-commerce and retail performance expert Kevin
Root will join the company as Chief Product Officer. Kevin will leave
his position as Senior Vice President of Product Strategy with
DriverSide, a Dealer.com partner that provides websites for car owners
and customer attraction and retention programs, to join Dealer.com’s
executive team.
As a nationally recognized subject matter expert in automotive
e-commerce, Kevin will add to the industry experience of the Dealer.com
executive team, bolster the company’s product development strategy and
retail performance improvement, and add to the innovation and success
Dealer.com has already achieved. Kevin, who was recognized by JD Power
and Associates as one of the ten original automotive e-business pioneers
in 1994, has long been considered a valuable consultant who leads the
industry’s best web-based marketing. Prior to working with DriverSide,
Kevin spent nearly 10 years with automotive digital provider The Cobalt
Group, where he worked on e-commerce performance improvement and
products and strategy.
“Dealer.com is thrilled to welcome Kevin Root to our executive team,”
said Rick Gibbs, President and CTO of Dealer.com. “Building on his
experience with DriverSide and The Cobalt Group, and his understanding
of the industry from the perspective of a dealer and a consumer, Kevin
will add a key competitive advantage to the Dealer.com leadership team
that will help continue to guide the company towards growth and
improvement.”
The addition of Kevin Root as Chief Product Officer comes at an
important time of growth and expansion for Dealer.com, with company
revenues reaching $85 million in 2010, an increase of over 60 percent
from 2009 – and more than triple the 2008 level. In addition to its
continued strong financial performance, Dealer.com recently increased
research and development spending more than 100 percent, expanded
industry partnerships, obtained a variety of prestigious awards and
accolades, and announced plans to add more than 200 people to its
growing workforce.