NORCROSS, Ga. — March 14, 2018 —APCO Holdings Inc., an innovative dealer solutions provider and administrator of vehicle service contracts sold by franchised and independent auto dealers throughout the U.S., announced that Finbarr O’Neill, president and CEO of J.D. Power, has joined APCO Holding’s board of directors.
“Fin is a member of a select group of automotive industry executives whose expertise and integrity resound with every mention of his name,” said Larry Dorfman, Chairman of APCO Holdings, parent company of the EasyCare and GWC brands. “We are looking forward to his contributions to our board as we continue to grow our business and fulfill our mission to transform the dealership experience.”
O’Neill, who has announced his retirement from J.D. Power effective March 2018, will continue to guide J.D. Power through the transition to a new chief executive and serve as a senior advisor following his departure. O’Neill said that the invitation came as he was weighing his options for retirement. Confident in J.D. Power’s “clear strategy for the future,” he is certain his departure comes at the appropriate time. He wishes to remain engaged with the industry, even as he enjoys time and travel with his wife of 40 years, their four children and their four grandchildren.
“I’m looking for an opportunity to apply my extensive experience in helping APCO Holdings and their EasyCare, GWC, Covideo and SAVY brands find ways to grow as the world around us changes,” O’Neill said, noting that the promise of a digital future brings uncertainty about buying habits, the F&I process and the vehicles themselves. He believes meeting car buyers’ changing expectations will be paramount. “How can APCO Holdings help solve consumers’ issues in these coming years, and in that context, help dealers help their customers?”
A licensed attorney, O’Neill joined Hyundai Motor America in 1985, first as general counsel, then as president and CEO from 1998 to 2003. He also served as CEO of Mitsubishi North America and Reynolds and Reynolds before joining J.D. Power in 2009. He is credited with successfully leading the company through a period of expansion, including a successful entry into the data and analytics segment, and the 2015 acquisition of the NADA’s National Appraisal Guides (NAG).
As one chapter ends and the next begins, O’Neill is confident that APCO is poised and equipped to fulfill its mission to bring lasting change to the industry.
“Larry and the team really live the principles and values their company stands for,” O’Neill said. “They are very, very clear and transparent. They love the car business and understand how it works, and they are constantly thinking of new ways to help dealers be more effective in bringing value to car buyers.”
About APCO Holdings, Inc. (APCO)
APCO, established in 1984, is a leading marketer and administrator of extended vehicle service contracts, warranties and other related products sold primarily by automobile dealers located throughout the United States. APCO has expanded its offerings over the last decade to include market leading video e-mail and service customer CRM technology, as well as leading edge training for dealership sales and finance teams. The company markets its products using the EasyCare and GWC brands, as well as other private label automobile manufacturer brands, through a network of independent agents and an internal salesforce that specialize in consulting with and servicing the automotive dealership markets. EasyCare and GWC Warranty are the only “Motor Trend Recommended Best Buy” brands in the automotive aftermarket. For further information about APCO, see www.gwcwarranty.com and www.easycare.com.
About EasyCare
EasyCare’s mission is to help dealers succeed at every customer touchpoint by creating passionate employees and customers. Whether it’s protecting the dealerships’ customers on their behalf or helping deliver the ultimate driving experience, EasyCare is fully engaged. Since 1984, the company has provided leading-edge benefits that have helped nationwide dealers deliver an outstanding ownership experience to over 7 million customers. EasyCare provides the only F&I benefits that are named a “MOTOR TREND Recommended Best Buy” for franchised dealers, in addition to a full suite of training programs, management development, and proprietary software. For more information, please visit easycare.com.
About GWC Warranty
Established in 1995, GWC Warranty is the largest, best-in-class provider of used vehicle service contracts in the automotive industry, having helped bring a “No Worries, Just Drive” experience to more than 1.5 million drivers nationwide. Named a MOTOR TREND® Recommended Best Buy for Independent Dealers and rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, GWC Warranty is committed to providing its dealer partners with service, products, training and technology to make them more successful. For more information about GWC Warranty please visit http://www.gwcwarranty.com./
Contact:
Ashley Braswell
678-615-1142
abraswell@easycare.com
