10 Cox Automotive operations leaders
VP Operations, VP Dealer Operations and AVP of operational excellence are among the roles held by these ten Cox Automotive operations leaders. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Cox Automotive from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Anya Schlesener
LinkedInExperience: VP Dealer Operations · Cox Automotive Inc.
Anya Schlesener has been VP Dealer Operations at Cox Automotive Inc. in Shawnee, Kansas since January 2026. Anya Schlesener was AVP Fixed Ops Operations and Readiness (2023–2026), Sr Director Strategic Execution (2021–2023) and Director of Finance (2016–2021) at Cox Automotive Inc., and Finance Manager at Sprint (2010–2016).
Derek Hansen
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President of Dealer, Lender, and Inventory Management Solutions · Cox Automotive Inc.
Derek Hansen has been Senior Vice President of Dealer, Lender, and Inventory Management Solutions at Cox Automotive Inc. in Atlanta since November 2025. Derek Hansen was Vice President of Operations/General Manager, Inventory Management Solutions (2022–2025), Vice President of Operations/General Manager, Wholesale Operations (2020–2022) and Vice President of Offsite Solutions (General Manager), Manheim (2018–2020) at Cox Automotive Inc.
Erin Lomax
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Operations - Consumer Marketplace & Autotrader · Cox Automotive Inc.
Erin Lomax has been Vice President, Operations - Consumer Marketplace & Autotrader at Cox Automotive Inc. in the Atlanta area since March 2020. Erin Lomax was Senior Business Operations Director - Autotrader (2018–2020), and held Director, Marketing, Digital Retailing (2017–2020), Director Of Brand Marketing (2016–2020) and Sr. Manager, Customer Marketing (2015–2016) roles at Cox Automotive Inc.
John Lavretta
LinkedInExperience: AVP of Operations · Cox Automotive Inc.
John Lavretta has been AVP of Operations at Cox Automotive Inc. in the Atlanta area since January 2021. John Lavretta was Senior Director of Finance (2019–2020), Director of Finance (2017–2019), Senior Finance Manager (2016–2017) and Finance Manager (2013–2016) at Cox Automotive Inc.
Lainey Sibble
LinkedInExperience: AVP Central Dispatch · Cox Automotive Inc.
Lainey Sibble has been AVP Central Dispatch at Cox Automotive Inc. since July 2025, in a role the profile lists under operations. Lainey Sibble was Senior Director, Central Dispatch Business Operations & Strategy (2023–2025), Senior Director, Cox Automotive Logistics Finance (2022–2023) and Director, Corporate Strategy (2018–2022) at Cox Automotive Inc.
Matt Schwartz
LinkedInExperience: AVP, Operations - Dealer.com Websites & OEM Programs · Cox Automotive Inc.
Matt Schwartz has been AVP, Operations - Dealer.com Websites & OEM Programs at Cox Automotive Inc. in the Kansas City area since December 2024, within the Retail Solutions group according to the profile. Matt Schwartz was Associate Vice President, Operational Excellence (2022–2024) and Senior Director, Strategy & Business Development - Retail Solutions (2018–2022) at Cox Automotive Inc., and Senior Director, Corporate Strategy at Cox Communications (2016–2018).
Matt Trapp
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Fleet Services by Cox Automotive
Matt Trapp has been Vice President Operations at Fleet Services by Cox Automotive since May 2024, and also lists Vice President Operations at Cox Fleet since 2026, describing a focus on operational excellence and client experience. Matt Trapp was Regional Vice President at Manheim (2014–2024) and Director Strategic Planning at Manheim by Cox Automotive (2010–2012).
Meghan Grounds
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Fraud, Credit & Revenue Operations COE · Cox Automotive Inc.
Meghan Grounds has been Vice President, Fraud, Credit & Revenue Operations COE at Cox Automotive Inc. in Atlanta since January 2026. Meghan Grounds was Assistant Vice President Credit & Collections (2020–2026), Senior Director Revenue Accounting (2018–2020) and Director - Revenue Accounting (2015–2018) at Cox Automotive Inc., and Director of Risk Management, Credit & Collections at Manheim by Cox Automotive (2014–2015).
Susan Blue
LinkedInExperience: VP Operations, Dealer Sales and Operations Solutions · Cox Automotive Inc.
Susan Blue has been VP Operations, Dealer Sales and Operations Solutions at Cox Automotive Inc. in Irvine, California since December 2022. Susan Blue was AVP OEM & Partnerships (2019–2022), Senior Director, Enterprise Strategic Growth (2017–2019) and Senior Director, Strategic Development- Kelley Blue Book (2014–2017) at Cox Automotive Inc., and Director of Global Strategy at FordDirect (2014).
Whitney Gerkin
LinkedInExperience: AVP, Operational Excellence · Cox Automotive Inc.
Whitney Gerkin has been AVP, Operational Excellence at Cox Automotive Inc. in Atlanta since September 2022, and the profile headline places the role at Manheim. Whitney Gerkin was Senior Director, Manheim Digital Marketplace (2020–2022), Director, Digital Operations, Manheim Digital Marketplace (2019–2020) and Director of Corporate Strategy (2016–2019) at Cox Automotive Inc.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose operations area, such as dealer sales and dealer operations, Autotrader, inventory management, fleet services, Central Dispatch, Dealer.com or credit and revenue operations, matches the decision you are working on. Weigh their scope, since an associate vice president and a senior vice president will describe the same problem differently.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What took most of your time in your operations role, and how did you decide what to handle yourself and what to delegate?
- 02How did you balance service quality against cost and efficiency targets?
- 03What did you carry over from earlier roles that changed how you lead operations teams?
Reaching Cox Automotive operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Cox Automotive operations leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: Cox Automotive Inc. and Fleet Services by Cox Automotive, based on profile data retrieved on October 18, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Cox Automotive operations leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Cox Automotive operations leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
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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