Front office changes at Canadian Black Book signal growth and innovation
Canadian Black Book president Brad Rome (front) with (left to right) Cole Reiken, vice president. digital strategy and product management; Brian Murphy, vice president research and editorial; Richard Phillips, vice president business development and marketing
Reiken: “We go out there and we market our site.”
An energized senior management team at Canadian Black Book is ready to take on the future, and car dealers, buyers and OEMs can expect to benefit, says the team’s newest member Cole Reiken.
“We’ve got a very, very full pipeline,” says Reiken, vice president of digital strategy and product management. “We have a bunch of new products that are going to be coming to market. We’re going to bring in new features, new modules and a brand new experience.”
With extensive automotive and digital experience with companies such as Kijiji.ca, Driving.ca, Auto Trader and eBay Motors, Reiken is one of three recent front office changes that further strengthen an already-strong team,according to company president Brad Rome.
His appointment comes just a few months after the addition of the company’s vice president of research and editorial, Brian Murphy.
Richard Phillips, who joined Rome as a consultant late last year, is now vice president of business development and marketing.
Along with the rest of Rome’s senior management team — Allison Goodwin vice president, strategic programs, Yves Varin, national director, business development, Yolanda Biswah national sales and customer experience manager and Dennis Cartier, chief technology officer — Reiken, Murphy and Phillips will focus on the Canadian Black Book’s current strategic direction towards new digital solutions for the automotive industry and consumer.
The direction is a natural follow-up to the one established by Kathy Ward, a mainstay of the company — and a larger than life industry figure — for more than 30 years.
Ward, who retired in September, brought the company into the age of technology as the business established in 1961 by her father, Bill Ward, evolved from publishing house to electronic data provider.
In 2015, she negotiated the sale of Canadian Black Book to its new U.S.-based parent, Hearst Business Media.
“Kathy has done a great job in setting up the organization for future success and providing the infrastructure for Brad to be successful,” says Reiken.
It’s a smooth transition, he says, helped by Canadian Black Book’s solid reputation as Canada’s trusted provider of vehicle values.
“Our vehicle valuation tools are the most accurate products out there,” Reiken says. “And one thing that makes our website unique for dealers is the fact that our listings inventory is totally free. We go out there and we market our site. We help get audience to their inventory.”
Plug-in technology that dealerships use on their own sites for trade-in valuation is also helping to capture audience and leads, he says.
In the near future, consumers can look forward to a brand new website with new interface, tools and user experience.
“We want to bring in new tools to help consumers understand the equity, or potential lack of equity, in their cars and the impact of new longer loans, so the transaction becomes more transparent, says Reiken.
A revamped CBB Connect tool, with new features and modules is also in the works.
The new executive team highlights the company’s commitment to growth and innovation, says president Brad Rome.
“Locking up this calibre of automotive talent into one office gives me enormous optimism about how effectively we can service Canada’s auto industry going forward,” he says.
