Manheim announced today that it has realigned its sales and service teams to create an organization more focused on meeting the changing needs of its diverse customer groups. The realignment is designed to provide more targeted expertise, service, and support to its customers while offering business solutions that better meet their individualized needs.

"As the industry changes, so do the expectations of our customers," said Nick Peluso, senior vice president of customer relations and strategies. "Our realignment positions our teams to offer more targeted support and service while addressing our customers' future business needs. "Our goal is to be on the front lines with our customers every day by offering solutions that help them succeed," said Peluso.

The new customer-centric realignment will benefit key national accounts, factory accounts, mega dealers, regional accounts, and franchise dealers. Peluso will oversee the new organizational teams, which include factory accounts, account management, and customer strategies. All teams will report directly to Peluso.

The factory accounts group will work directly with Manheim's large manufacturer customers and affiliates, serving as their primary liaison. The team is responsible for building and maintaining strong customer relationships. The group consists of:

• Diane Barton, vice president, factory accounts, Ford

• Mark Davidson, vice president, factory accounts, DaimlerChrysler

• Kevin Freudenberg, vice president, factory accounts, General Motors

• Peter Trench, vice president, factory accounts, import accounts. Mike McKinney has been appointed vice president of the account management team. The team consists of two groups:

  Regional accounts will focus on the success of the account base at each operation location. Relationships with customers such as independent dealers and wholesalers will remain at the operating locations. The regional team will support dealer, factory and fleet/lease departments at all Manheim locations. National accounts will continue to focus on meeting the needs of customers who have a national impact with Manheim, including fleet, lease, rental, financial institutions and multipoint dealer groups. This team consists of three groups: Franchise Dealers, Mega Dealers, and National Key Accounts. To focus on the specific needs of the Mega Dealers, Mike Moumousis will continue in this role as vice president, Mega Account Dealers. Debbie Conrad has been promoted to senior director of customer strategies. Her team has two areas of focus:

  
  

• Account strategies and initiatives will be led by Jessica Lanier, newly appointed director. The team's focus is to ensure that the other account teams have all tools and resources to operate effectively.

  
  

• Development will be led by Jamie McCollum, director, and Luc Mitchell, manager, national accounts. The team will be responsible for training staff and identifying and implementing key national account team initiatives. About Manheim
  Manheim is the world's leading provider of automotive remarketing services. Through its wholesale auctions and array of technology products, Manheim impacts every stage of a used vehicle's life cycle, helping commercial sellers and automobile dealers realize the full value of their vehicles.

  The company's auction services include reconditioning, certification, inspections, dealer financing, transport, title management and marshaling, among others. Manheim is also the leader in remarketing technology, using its online tools to connect buyers and sellers around the globe to the world's largest, most comprehensive wholesale marketplace. In 2005, Manheim handled nearly 10 million used vehicles--and sold more than 5 million--representing more than $50 billion in value.

  Manheim's subsidiary companies provide value-added remarketing products and services, including paintless dent removal (Dent Wizard), Auto Body Repair, and salvage vehicle remarketing (Total Resource Auctions).

  A wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Atlanta-based Manheim is a global organization with 32,000 employees at its 140 U.S. and international locations. For more information, visit www.manheim.com.