10 AutoNation operations leaders
Jeff Parent, Chief Operating Officer, heads this list of AutoNation operations leaders, whose current titles include COO roles for parts and for AutoNation Finance, vice presidents of operations and after sales, and directors of shared service, strategic and rental operations. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at AutoNation from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Brent Hillyer
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Operations & OEM Relations · AutoNation
Brent Hillyer has been Vice President, Operations & OEM Relations at AutoNation since January 2024, working from Fort Lauderdale. Brent served as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Vehicle Supply at Gulf States Toyota from 2018 to 2023, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions at CDK Global and Director, Marketing & Sales Operations at Tonkin Family of Dealerships.
Chris Bergin
LinkedInExperience: Director, Strategic Operations · AutoNation
Chris Bergin has been Director, Strategic Operations at AutoNation since June 2026, with a headline covering business transformation, AI, automation and process optimization. Chris served as Senior Operations & Program Manager – Transportation at Amazon from 2020 to 2024 and as a Director at ACIS - Air Conditioning Innovative Solutions.
David Koehler
LinkedInExperience: Former Chief Operating Officer of Non-Franchise Businesses · AutoNation
David Koehler served as Chief Operating Officer of Non-Franchise Businesses at AutoNation from 2022 to 2025, as Eastern Region President from 2019 to 2022 and as market President across Dallas Fort Worth, Tampa Bay, Memphis, Chicago and White Bear Lake from 2013 to 2019. David is now Managing Director at Germain Automotive Partnership.
Douglas Danstrom
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, After Sales · AutoNation
Douglas Danstrom has been Vice President, After Sales at AutoNation since May 2025, with a headline reading Vice President, Service Operations. Douglas served at Ford Motor Company as Director, Service Performance from 2024 to 2025, U.S. Service Solutions Director from 2020 to 2022 and Chief Operating Officer, North America and Global Quick Lane Manager from 2018 to 2020.
Gianluca Camplone
LinkedInExperience: COO Parts, EVP Mobility, Business Strategy and Development AutoNation Inc. · AutoNation
Gianluca Camplone has been COO Parts and EVP Mobility, Business Strategy and Development at AutoNation since March 2022, with a headline naming the COO role for AutoNation Parts. Gianluca served as a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company from 1997 to 2022 and describes experience across automotive, mobility and industrial technologies.
Jeff Parent
LinkedInExperience: Chief Operating Officer · AutoNation
Jeff Parent has been Chief Operating Officer at AutoNation since October 2023, working from Fort Lauderdale. Jeff served as President and General Manager of Gulf States Toyota from 2017 to 2023, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Nissan Motor Corporation and Region VP, Eastern Region at Volkswagen Group, and is Board Chair Emeritus of the Epilepsy Foundation of America.
John Hansen
LinkedInExperience: Director Rental and Loaner Operations · AutoNation
John Hansen has been Director Rental and Loaner Operations at AutoNation since September 2025, working from Phoenix, in a role the profile describes as leading the strategic vision. John served at TSD Mobility Solutions as Director Sales Engineering, Director of Strategic Accounts and Manager of Client and OEM Experience.
Joyce Perry, CFE
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director of Operations Shared Service Center · AutoNation
Joyce Perry has been Sr. Director of Operations Shared Service Center at AutoNation since May 2013, describing a senior level automotive financial and operations career. Joyce served as Director, Acquisitions at Sheridan Healthcare, Director, Finance - Market Rep Dealer Development at Southeast Toyota Distributors and Director of Finance at JM Family.
Kim Gershon
LinkedInExperience: SVP & COO · AutoNation Finance
Kim Gershon has been SVP & COO of AutoNation Finance since August 2023, with a headline covering growth strategy, revenue optimization and business transformation. Kim served as Senior Vice President, Head of Strategic Planning at Mechanics Bank Auto Finance from 2020 to 2023, Senior Vice President, Head of Auto - Personal Finance at Bank of the West from 2018 to 2020 and in auto originations roles at Wells Fargo.
Steve Kwak
LinkedInExperience: Former Chief Operating Officer, Franchised Business · AutoNation
Steve Kwak served as Chief Operating Officer, Franchised Business at AutoNation from 2022 to 2023 and as President, Western Region from 2017 to 2022, a role described as responsible for about 150 new vehicle franchises, AutoNation USA dealerships and Collision Centers. Steve served as Global Chief Operating Officer & President North American Operations at Alpha Auto Group from 2023 to 2026.
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Match the person's role, scope and dates to the decision you face, and favor someone whose past role is closest to the one you are weighing. Check whether each role is current and when it started or ended to judge how recent the person's view is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you change first when you took on your operations role at AutoNation, and why?
- 02Which measures did you rely on most to judge whether an operation you led was on track?
- 03What is one decision from your own role that you would make differently today, and why?
Reaching AutoNation operations leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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