Cox Automotive picks outsider for new chief sales officer position

Cox Automotive is tapping a newcomer to the auto industry to oversee its sales and marketing operations in the U.S., taking over for departing executive Raj Sundaram.

Information technology executive Sid Nair becomes Cox Automotive's chief sales officer, a new position, effective Tuesday. Sundaram, Cox Automotive's executive vice president and chief client success officer, is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Nair will take over for Sundaram, who will depart once the chief sales officer role is "up and running," according to an internal company memo. Nair will report to company President Sandy Schwartz.

Meanwhile, Marianne Johnson, who joined Cox Automotive in June, will assume the responsibilities of COO Mark O'Neil who, as previously reported, is retiring in February. Johnson's title remains chief product officer, and the company is not currently looking for a new COO, according to an internal memo. Bryan Landerman, the company's chief technology officer, will report to Johnson.

Nair comes from DXC Technology, an IT services company with $24.5 billion in revenue that was formed after Computer Sciences Corp. and the Enterprise Services Division of Hewlett Packard Enterprise merged in April 2017. Nair, who had been with HPE Enterprise Services before the merger, was responsible for growing DXC Technology's $10 billion business in the Americas region.

Cox Automotive's sales leadership across the U.S. will report to Nair. The company's NextGear Capital sales team will continue to focus on the independent dealer market, reporting to Shane O'Dell, president of Cox Automotive's Financial Solutions Group.

Nair said in a statement that he looks forward to bringing his experience to Cox.

"Coming from high-performing companies with complex product lines and disparate client segments, I know what it takes to create a unified sales approach and structure that makes teams even more successful," he said.

In a separate internal memo announcing Nair's appointment, Schwartz said Nair "had the best mix of experience and expertise to help us create one powerful, unified sales team. He also has the 'ambidextrous' mindset we're looking for in all leaders — which means he can operate with excellence today and provide strategic guidance that will prepare us for the bold future we're pursuing together."