2021 Automotive News Canada All-Stars

Ken Szekely knows that when you take care of your employees, they take care of your business. At a time when Canadian dealerships face 41-per-cent turnover rates, Szekely has been able to keep 90 per cent of his 120 employees at Mercedes-Benz Burlington, where he is dealer principal.

Szekely, 66, is all-in on supporting employee well-being, professional development and ensuring there are clear opportunities for career growth. Employees who are well cared for provide services that enhance customer experience, he says.

Szekely also believes in giving young employees a chance to shine. One example is Tudor Baciu, who couldn’t speak English when he began in the dealership’s car-wash bay 10 years ago after his family emigrated from Romania. With company-supported training, Baciu, 38, became the company’s “best general manager.” He also follows his boss’s mantra by doing a daily walkaround to check on employee well-being.