Industry Veteran Bob Thomas Named CEO of Edmunds.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDUSTRY VETERAN BOB THOMAS NAMED CEO OF EDMUNDS.COM
Los Angeles, July 17, 2000 - Auto industry veteran Bob Thomas has been named Chief Executive Officer for North American Operations of Edmunds.com (http://www.edmunds.com), the web's leading consumer resource for unbiased automotive information. Effective June 2000, the former head of Nissan North America, Inc. is responsible for North American sales and marketing, partner relationship management and business development for the growing Santa Monica corporation, which will expand to Europe and Canada in coming months.
"Bob has a well-regarded, well-rounded automotive background which fits the needs of the position," according to Peter Steinlauf, president of Edmunds.com. "We are confident he will significantly add to our success."
Born Robert J. Thomas in Denver in 1945, he was raised in North Platte, Nebraska and graduated from the US Air Force Academy with a BS in Engineering Management in 1967. Thomas began his automotive career in 1972 with the Lincoln Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company following an honorable discharge as a Captain in the Air Force.
After ten years, Thomas left Lincoln Mercury, where he had most recently earned the role of General Field Manager for the New York area, and became Nissan's regional sales manager based in Jacksonville. Thomas climbed that ladder to the top, finishing his Nissan career as President and CEO from 1993 through 1997.
Recognizing the auto business was changing drastically, Thomas sought to be a part of the change, joining AutoNation USA as Executive Vice President of Marketing Strategy based in Fort Lauderdale. Subsequently, given the additional changes facing this industry, he made the jump to the electronic world, becoming President and CEO of Dreamlot.com in Mountainview, CA.
"Edmunds has the double-edged benefit of being a established, valued brand with a 21st century approach to business," according to Thomas. "I look forward to representing the benefits of Edmunds' exceptionally strong consumer brand to our current and prospective partners."
Throughout his career, Thomas has received many distinctions. Among those, his membership on the seven-person Presidential Commission, One America: Race Relations in the 21st Century (1997-99), and the Board of Directors for the Smithsonian Institute's New Business Ventures (1998-99) stand out most in his mind.
The father of two grown children, Thomas is in the process of relocating to Brentwood, CA with his wife, Avis. Enjoying several sports, he completed the Honolulu Marathon in late 1999.
About Edmunds.com
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Edmunds.com is the Internet's pioneer and leader in providing free, unbiased automotive information. Edmunds.com empowers, educates and engages visitors by respecting them and providing them with straightforward, truthful information on key aspects of buying, selling and owning a vehicle. Users are provided automobile pricing data, extensive automobile reviews, consumer information, safety updates, incentive and rebate news, expert analysis of developments in the automotive world and the Town Hall, an interactive community of more than 500,000 participants. Edmunds.com has been honored as one of Yahoo! Internet Life's 50 Most Incredibly Useful Sites, Money's 50 Most Useful Financial Websites and among Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 100 Web Sites for Entrepreneurs.
