Tim Ryan, Vice-President and Director of Industry Relations & General Counsel
The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) announced that it was promoting one of its senior employees to a more elevated role, better reflecting his status in the organization — and within the industry.
Tim Ryan, who has been with the association for more than 18 years, was named the Vice-President and Director of Industry Relations & General Counsel.
“The change in title to Vice-President is in keeping with the expanded direction and activities that the association will undertake over the next few years,” said CADA President and CEO John White in a written release.
In an interview with Canadian auto dealer, White expanded on why he made the promotion.
“Promoting Tim to VP provides two opportunities. It lets me broaden his role beyond industry relations and legal affairs, and it elevates his profile when he’s sitting at the table with a manufacturer and other industries that we’re negotiating with,” said White.
“I see it as a one-two punch. I see myself and Tim as the face of the organization. I think he will be able to do a lot of things for the association and the dealers,” said White.
Not one to back down from a challenge, Ryan is well suited to the role of advocating for dealer interests, but from an informed position, said White.
“He is the one in our organization that possesses the highest level of institutional knowledge,” said White. “You have to be combative when you need to be. Tim Ryan has for a long time been loyal, he’s been in tons of battles, and he has really represented dealers.”
“I’m excited about what the future brings,” said Ryan in an interview with Canadian auto dealer about his new appointment.
In terms of his new role, Ryan said it’s all about helping the association fulfill its main mandate. “Fundamentally, what we are about is protecting dealers and their retail network,” said Ryan.
Ryan said he feels the industry is entering into an area of “unprecedented change” and the association will have to be ready to respond if any of these changes threaten to disrupt the business operations of dealers.
