ATLANTA – On Sept. 1, Keith Williams and Dan Thomas retired from Manheim. Williams retired as vice president of technology integration after serving the automotive industry for 44 years, including 26 at Manheim. Thomas retired as general manager of Manheim Nevada after a career spanning 36 years in the remarketing industry, 19 of which were at Manheim.
“Keith and Dan have been instrumental in helping Manheim maintain its leadership position within the remarketing industry for the past few decades,” said Sandy Schwartz, president of Manheim. “While I appreciate all that both Keith and Dan have done for Manheim and the industry, I also feel fortunate to count both of them as great friends. We are all grateful for their dedicated service and contributions to our company and wish them the best in their well-earned retirement years.”
As vice president of technology integration, Williams helped strengthen Manheim’s technology leadership position. He gathered vital feedback from customers, the field sales team and individual auction locations about online technology and how it can be used to enhance Manheim’s sales and service channels.
In his previous role as vice president and general manager of Manheim Pennsylvania – the world’s largest auto auction and online services center – Williams enhanced tracking and inventory systems and developed browser-based mobile applications that provided new bidding tools for early adopters of smartphones and online buying. These achievements earned him the reputation across the industry as a technology innovator.
“Keith has seen the auto industry grow and evolve for more than four decades,” Schwartz said. “His ongoing commitment to innovation helped Manheim take advantage of emerging technology and trends that benefited our company and our customers. Manheim will continue to gain from his remarkable work and ideas in the years ahead.”
Williams joined Manheim in 1985 as general manager of Newburgh Auto Auction in Newburgh, N.Y. In 1997, he was named vice president of operations for the Northeast region. In 2005, Williams was named vice president and general manager of Manheim Pennsylvania; he continued in this role until December 2010 when he moved to Manheim’s corporate team as vice president of technology integration. Prior to joining Manheim, Williams served 18 years in a family-owned auto dealership in the New York area.
Under Thomas’ leadership, Manheim Nevada became one of Manheim’s top performing operating locations. He led all areas of operation and consistently looked for new and better way to increase efficiencies. In that role, Thomas also served as a trusted advisor for Manheim’s executive team regarding industry trends in the Nevada and surrounding markets.
“Dan has been a key driver of our company’s success in the Western region through the years,” Schwartz added. “His efforts led to improvements in operational efficiencies and remarketing services that delivered bottom-line results for customers. We congratulate Dan on an outstanding career.”
In 1992, Thomas started his career at Manheim as general manager of Bay Cities Auto Auction in Hayward, Calif. He then spent 13 years in regional operations management roles, including serving as regional vice president of Manheim’s West region where he oversaw 16 operating locations, before being named to his current role as general manager of Manheim Nevada in 2007.
Prior to working for Manheim, Thomas worked in a variety of roles in the remarketing industry, including being an independent auto dealer, an auctioneer and a general manager at Golden Gate Auto Auction.
About Manheim (www.manheim.com)
Manheim is the world’s leading provider of vehicle remarketing services. Through its 122 worldwide wholesale operating locations, Manheim impacts every stage of a used vehicle’s life cycle, helping commercial sellers and automobile dealers maximize the full value of their vehicles. Drawing from its auction transaction volume, Manheim Consulting publishes the annual Used Car Market Report, the definitive source of data for the used car industry. Manheim Consulting offers a wide range of services including custom analytics, business optimization and macro economic analysis.
Manheim is the online vehicle remarketing leader, connecting buyers and sellers to the world’s largest, most comprehensive wholesale marketplace through its extensive in-lane and online offerings. Manheim.com receives nearly 900,000 visits each week.
Additionally, Manheim offers services including reconditioning, certification, inspections, dealer financing, title management and marshaling, among others. Through its wide array of services and technologies, industry publications, customer support and educational offerings, Manheim gives its customers maximum control over how they buy and sell vehicles, helping them to conduct business in the most efficient way possible. In 2010, Manheim handled nearly 10 million used vehicles, facilitating transactions worth more than $50 billion in value.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company.
