Editor’s note: A headline on an earlier version of this story incorrectly suggested that Cox is leaving Canada.
Citing structural changes, Maria Soklis has elected to leave Cox Automotive as president of Cox Automotive Canada and Brazil at the end of October.
"We can confirm that Cox Automotive has announced [Tuesday] that it will transition the full Canadian business back into its United States operations as part of a decision to simplify its structure for local and global customers. This transition will happen from [Tuesday]," a Cox Automotive Canada spokesperson said in an email to Automotive News Canada.
The spokesperson said the firm, which provides inventory and digital retailing services and solutions to dealers, won't physically be leaving the country, but rather it will start reporting to U.S. management. Canadian operations will continue, the spokesperson said.
“The new strategy will ensure the business becomes more agile in supporting both current and future customers and help leverage synergies and efficiencies between Canada and the United States including sharing common platforms, products and solutions,” Martin Forbes, president for Cox Automotive International, said in a statement.
Soklis personally notified customers and partners of her departure using wording similar to that of the Cox statement. “Cox Automotive Canada has long been closely aligned with the U.S., especially due to its geographic proximity. We have common customers, and it just makes business sense to serve them as one company. We need to simplify our structure to make it even easier for our customers to do business with us and for us to help them grow. It will be an important part of our North American strategy.”
“It has been a pleasure working alongside you and getting to know you, both professionally and personally,” Soklis said in her note. “I will remain in the organization until the end of October, and I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have, or simply have a conversation about the benefits of this transition.”
A Cox spokesman said officials would not be made available for interviews and didn’t say whether the transition would lead to job losses or transfers to the United States, or what it means for the Cox Automotive office in Mississauga, Ont. The company also has offices in Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver and Milton, Ont.
Forbes in the Cox statement thanked Soklis for her work in Canada.
“Her leadership has led Cox Automotive Canada to being recognized as the leading automotive service organization in the country,” he wrote. “She has been an integral and important part of the Cox Automotive International leadership team and I wish her all success in her future ventures.”
Cox, headquartered in Atlanta, includes Kelley Blue Book, Xtime, Autotrader.com and Manheim auctions in its global automotive businesses.
