BURLINGTON, Vt. — Dealer.com, a provider of automotive Internet marketing solutions, announced Monday that automotive e-commerce and retail performance expert Kevin Root will join the company as chief product officer. 

Dealer.com said Root 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, Root 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. Root, who was recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as one of the 10 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 chief technology officer 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.”

“Dealer.com is already an industry innovator and leading product developer, and I’m happy my experience and expertise will add to their team,” said Root.  “I look forward to being part of the continued growth of Dealer.com and the prospect of strengthening the existing partnership between Dealer.com and DriverSide.”

The addition of Kevin Root as Chief Product Officer comes at an important time of growth and expansion for Dealer.com. The company’s revenues reached $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.