The Cobalt Group, a provider of e-business software and services to the automotive retail market, announced Apr. 1 it has named Howard Gardner vice president of professional services. In his new role, Gardner is responsible for growing Cobalt's professional services division, which provides consulting and e-business technology solutions to many automotive manufacturers and dealer groups. Gardner reports to Cobalt's Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Rajan Krishnamurty.

"Howard Gardner is a deeply experienced executive with a wide range of business leadership, customer relationship, software engineering and product management expertise," said John Holt, president and CEO of The Cobalt Group. "Additionally, Howard brings a strong automotive industry background to this very important leadership role at Cobalt. Howard will play a key role in Cobalt's success going forward as we deepen our partnerships with our automotive manufacturer and dealer group clients."

Gardner brings more than 20 years of technology and automotive industry leadership experience to Cobalt including developing and marketing software and Internet products. Prior to joining Cobalt, Gardner served as senior vice president and general manager of Hart Intercivic in Austin, Texas, for two years where he led a division providing workflow application software. Gardner spent three years at Reynolds & Reynolds as vice president of product management and software development for this automotive information management company. Gardner also held executive positions at Spectravision in Richardson, Texas, and SRX, Inc. in Dallas, Texas.

Gardner holds a master of science degree in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Washington University.

About The Cobalt Group

According to The Cobalt Group, they work exclusively in the automotive retail market to help manufacturers and dealers develop integrated e-business programs by leveraging technology, a broad range of services and deep domain knowledge.

Cobalt offers a broad range of products and services developed specifically for the automotive marketplace including enterprise software for manufacturers and dealers; customer relationship management (CRM) software applications; online automotive commerce applications; OEM parts locating and marketing service; dealership e-business best practices training, consulting, and process compliance analysis; and wholesale used vehicle remarketing services.

Cobalt operates a dealer network including 12,000 franchised dealers and 70 dealer groups. Cobalt is endorsed by 14 manufacturers and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

With headquarters in Seattle, Wash., Cobalt has offices in five U.S. cities and a field sales and services force in 30 states, including all major U.S. metropolitan sales areas (MSAs).

For more information, please visit www.cobaltgroup.com or call (800) 909-8244.