AutoNation Replaces CEO after 4 Months

AutoNation Inc. has replaced Carl Liebert, who took over as president and CEO in March, with Cheryl Miller, the company’s chief financial officer.

Liebert, 53, had been selected by the Florida-based auto retailer from among hundreds of candidates in a process that went on for several months. His previous assignments included chief operating officer for USAA, an insurance provider for military families, and Home Depot’s head of international sales, strategy and global sourcing.

Liebert succeeded auto retailing legend Mike Jackson, who continues as executive chairman of the company. Jackson tells Automotive News that Miller, 47, had been runner-up in the previous selection process. He says Liebert “wasn’t a good fit.”

Miller has worked closely with Jackson for a decade  and has been CFO since 2014. Among her first-day decisions was to name Jim Bender, AutoNation’s head of sales, as the company’s new chief operating officer. She also chose Christopher Cade, who has been the company’s chief accounting officer, to succeed her as interim CFO.

AutoNation, which retailed more than 548,000 new and used vehicles last year, describes itself as the largest automotive retailer in the U.S. The company operates more than 325 locations nationwide.