Hammer is returning to KAR after 20 months as CEO of US Auto Sales of Duluth, Ga., a 21-store buy-here, pay-here subprime used-car retailer.
In his 2009-16 stint at KAR, Hammer served as COO and later CEO of Automotive Finance Corp., KAR's captive lender.
He held a variety of related jobs prior to that as a Mercedes-Benz Financial manager, dealership general manager for AutoNation Inc., and several posts at Ally Financial and Ally's Saab and American Suzuki captive lending subsidiaries.
Hammer believes the broad background in related fields helps him better understand what ADESA's customers want and need.
"I look at the business from a customer perspective," he said. "I've been an ADESA customer at my most recent job."
Hammer said he has been a remarketer his whole career.
"I've bought and sold as a car dealer at auctions, I've worked both sales and finance arms, I've run finance companies and dealership groups," he said. "It's always good to have worked in the space where your customers are."