Jessica Stafford Named Senior Vice President and General Manager for Autotrader
ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Automotive names Jessica Stafford, senior vice president and general manager of Autotrader, effective today. Stafford will lead the business and work cross-functionally across product, sales, marketing and operations.
"With more than 10 years of experience leading the marketing team, Jessica has been instrumental in establishing Autotrader's position as the most complete online car shopping and buying experience," said Brian Geitner, president, Media Solutions Group at Cox Automotive. "She is highly respected at Cox Automotive and within the industry, and her strong leadership skills, business acumen, passion for employee culture, creativity and constant drive to challenge the status quo will continue to help drive the business forward."
Stafford joined Autotrader in 2007 as an associate manager of digital marketing before moving to various other marketing positions within the company, including her most recent role as vice president of marketing for Cox Automotive's portfolio of powerhouse brands in the Media Solutions Group, which includes Autotrader, Dealer.com and Kelley Blue Book.
Overseeing strategy and execution for all B2C and B2B marketing and advertising initiatives, Stafford helped push creative boundaries to grow brand visibility and deliver millions of in-market car shoppers to sellers' online automotive inventory, while also driving engagement with the automotive industry, dealers and manufacturers. Her signature multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns, and her data-first marketing technology approach have been influential in the integration of the Media Solutions Group's three industry-leading brands, and she will continue to play a significant leadership role as the company introduces several new and exciting cross-brand solutions.
Jessica has been recognized as one of AdWeek's Rising Stars, as well as Auto Remarketing's 40 Under 40 and top Women in Remarketing.
"We are at a pivotal point in our integration across Cox Automotive, and Autotrader will be the central force in the reinvention of buying and selling cars," said Jessica Stafford, senior vice president and general manager of Autotrader. "I couldn't be more honored to lead Autotrader through the dramatic transformation of our brand, providing new solutions to our clients that deliver more qualified leads, and helping shoppers quickly and easily move from shopping to buying."
Greta Crowley will take over as vice president of marketing for Cox Automotive's Media Solutions Group. Crowley previously led all media efforts for Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, managing the consumer marketing team. She developed and directed all digital and traditional media programs, including search engine marketing and optimization, social media, mobile marketing, TV, radio, out-of-home, broadcast integrations, analytics, agency management, sports partnerships, and sponsorships with other large corporations. Crowley led the creation of a truly integrated media plan leveraging the two largest consumer car-shopping brands, and also was recently recognized by Auto Remarketing as Remarketing & Used-Car Industry's 40 Under 40. She also will begin her role today.
About Autotrader
Autotrader connects with more actual car buyers than any other third-party listing site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience.
Autotrader is a Cox Automotive(TM) brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.
About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, financial, retail and wholesale solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader(®), Dealer.com(®), Dealertrack(®), Kelley Blue Book(®), Manheim(®), NextGear Capital(®), vAuto(®), Xtime(®) and a host of other brands. The global company has 32,000-plus team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.
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SOURCE Cox Automotive
