Dave Sargent, Kristin Kolodge, Jack Dolan, Elizabeth Krear.
Data analytics and consumer intelligence firm J.D. Power announced staffing changes this week within its automotive division. These changes are focused on adding more data and analytical insights to the areas of EV, mobility, connectivity and consultation within the automotive industry.
Elizabeth Krear, formerly the global head of product planning with Stellantis has been hired as vice president of J.D. Power’s new EV (electric vehicle) practice. Jack Dolan, formerly the chief engineer at Lordstown Motors, has been hired as vice president of product quality performance improvement. Kristin Kolodge has been promoted to vice president and head of auto benchmarking and mobility development, filling the role of Dave Sargent, a long-standing J.D. Power executive who will become the vice president of the firm’s newly created connected vehicle practice.
These four executives will report to Doug Betts, president of J.D. Power’s automotive division, and according to Betts, the leadership shift will help position J.D. Power to manage the massive disruptions seen within the automotive industry. “Customers are counting on us to help them make critical business decisions and seize opportunities,” Betts said in the company’s press release. “Acquiring and redeploying talented leadership for these critical areas of vehicle electrification and connected vehicle data will help keep us on the leading edge of data analytics.”
Krear will rely on her experience at Stellantis where she headed product planning for Jeep Grand Wagoneer and electrified body-on-frame SUVs and trucks, as well as her experience in planning and developing electrified platforms for the EV transition of Stellantis products.
Dolan’s experience is data-focused; he headed up North American operations for A2Mac1, an automotive technical data benchmarking company and also worked for many years in the engineering department as a chief engineer at Stellantis. Dolan will be working alongside Geoffrey Mortimer-Lamb in his role as vice president of product quality performance improvement to cover clients over a wide geographic area.
According to Betts, Sargent will lead the development of use cases and products in the company’s newly created connected vehicle practice. “Dave’s reputation as one of the most well-known and trusted names in the industry, combined with his diverse knowledge across the entire space, will be a tremendous asset in creating value in this all-new area,” Betts said.
With seven years in the auto quality practice, Kolodge will use her knowledge and experience of vehicles, technology and benchmarks to guide the company’s auto benchmarking and mobility practice.
