Larry Dorfman will step aside as chief executive of APCO Holdings, the company he founded 35 years ago and grew to include the EasyCare, GWC Warranty, and Covideo brands, yielding the company’s chairman and CEO position to former J.D. Power head Finbarr O’Neill.
NORCROSS, Ga. — After 35 years, Larry Dorfman has decided to step aside as chairman and CEO of APCO Holdings LLC and assume a role as senior advisor to the company to allow himself more time to focus on his family and personal life while still engaging in the things he is most passionate about: supporting dealers, agents, and the company’s employees, the company announced.
APCO is home to the EasyCare, GWC Warranty, SAVY, Covideo and MotorTrend Certified Vehicles brands, serving franchised and independent dealers, agents, OEMs and other distribution channels.
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Finbarr O’Neill will succeed Dorfman as chairman and CEO. In his new role, O’Neill will focus on operational effectiveness and strategy to strengthen APCO’s position as the premier provider of vehicle service contracts, ancillary products, and administrative services. O’Neill joined APCO’s board of directors in March of last year.
“Fin has a proven track record as a CEO in large companies in the automotive business,” Dorfman said. “He is already a part of our team and knows our company, so he is well-positioned to serve as a catalyst to help take APCO to next level and that is exactly what we intend to do. As we grow, we intend to continue to be innovators and leaders in our sector of the industry while we maintain our claims and customer service excellence. To meet these expectations while managing our growth, we needed a person like Fin who understands the needs of the industry and unique culture we have built for our employees.”
O’Neill most recently served as president and CEO of J.D. Power, where he helped lead the firm through a period of dramatic expansion into data and analytics and the integration of strategic acquisitions, including the NADA Used Car Guide and National Appraisal Guides. He previously served as CEO for Hyundai Motor America, Mitsubishi North America, and Reynolds and Reynolds.
“Larry has had an amazingly positive impact on the retail automotive industry. He has blazed a trail for 35 years and I’m excited to accept the baton in this time of great change in the automotive business. It’s especially exciting to be with a team devoted to helping dealers navigate these changes,” O’Neill said. “Consumer behaviors are driving tremendous change, not only in their digital shopping habits but in their desire to limit risk across their lives. There is a real opportunity to meet their need to insure against unexpected outlays in connection with vehicle ownership.”
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