2019 Canadians to Watch

CHOSEN BECAUSE: 

Paul Antony leads Canada’s only publicly owned dealership group during a time of significant uncertainty, both for the company and for automotive retailing. In recent years, AutoCanada has expanded beyond its traditional home in the prairie provinces, but it hasn’t been easy for the company as the stock price has taken a hit. 

Last year, an array of new executives, including Antony, was brought in to turn around AutoCanada’s fortunes. And it recently brought in a new executive to lead the group’s nine stores in the United States, which have yet to turn a profit. The group in early August announced plans to sell four of its U.S. stores. 

How successful Antony, who declined to provide his age, and AutoCanada are across the border could indicate how difficult it will be for Canadian dealers to run U.S. stores moving forward. 

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

“We want people to want to sell their stores to us, not just because we’re going to make them more efficient but also because we have a skill set that they don’t. We want to be No. 1. We have the platform.”