Rush Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: RUSHA and RUSHB), which operates
the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North
America, announced today that Michael McRoberts, Chief Operating
Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, will
step down from his role as COO later this year, and Scott Anderson,
Senior Vice President of Finance, Insurance and Leasing, will
retire effective March 30, 2024.
McRoberts was instrumental in leading the Company’s operations
through a period of substantial growth and transformation. His
extensive background in the commercial vehicle dealership, leasing,
and contract-carriage industries markedly impacted the Company’s
operations and strategic direction. In addition, McRoberts’
leadership was pivotal in refining the Company’s operations to
achieve greater efficiencies, leveraging its data in furtherance of
the Company’s strategic initiatives, and driving the customer
experience.
When McRoberts steps down as Chief Operating Officer, he will
continue to serve in a senior advisory role and in his current
capacity as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Further
details regarding the timing of McRoberts’ retirement, which will
occur in the second half of the year, will be provided at a later
date.
McRoberts was appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2016. He
joined the Company in 2011 and served as Regional Manager for Rush
Truck Centers in California until he was appointed Senior Vice
President – Dealer Operations in March 2013. Prior to joining Rush
Enterprises, McRoberts served as the Vice President – General
Manager and Chief Operating Officer for the Scully Companies, a
regional full-service leasing and dedicated contract carriage
organization. His background also includes 13 years of experience
with other commercial vehicle dealership groups, serving in various
executive positions.
“Michael’s strong leadership and strategic guidance has been a
primary contributor to our ability to achieve the significant
growth and consistent financial results we have experienced over
the last decade,” said W.M. “Rusty” Rush, Chairman of the Board of
Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rush
Enterprises, Inc. “As a direct result of Michael’s leadership, we
have become more disciplined and improved our processes over the
years, enabling us to offer our customers superior commercial
vehicle solutions at even greater value. He has also been a
respected mentor to our leaders throughout the Company and a
trusted colleague and adviser, and I am grateful for his
innumerable contributions to our success,” said Rush.
Jason Wilder will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer
upon McRoberts’ retirement later in the year. Wilder has served as
Senior Vice President – Navistar Dealerships since May 2019. From
2011 until 2019, he served as Regional General Manager of the
Georgia Region, and as the Regional General Manager of the
Company’s North Carolina dealerships from 2008 until 2011. Wilder
joined the Company in November 2006 as the General Manager of the
Atlanta medium-duty dealership. Prior to joining the Company, he
was the General Manager of Fouts Brothers Truck Center in Smyrna,
Georgia. “Jason has a tremendous depth of knowledge of commercial
vehicle dealership operations and has demonstrated strong
leadership ability since the first day he joined our Company. He
has worked closely with Michael and me over the years, and I expect
a very smooth transition,” added Rush.
Jorgan Peterson will assume Wilder’s current role of Senior Vice
President – Navistar Dealerships later this year. Peterson has
served as Regional General Manager of the Utah and Idaho region of
Navistar dealerships since 2013, where he was responsible for
guiding the growth and transformation of the Company’s dealerships
in the region. He started with the Company in 2010 as District
General Manager of the Idaho region and prior to joining the
Company had been with Lake City International Truck dealership
group in Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho since 2003. “Jorgan
is very experienced with our Navistar dealership operations and I
am excited to have him in this new role,” Rush stated.
Anderson oversaw Rush Enterprises’ commercial vehicle finance
and insurance operations during a period of significant growth in
the number of the Company’s dealerships. He also led the Company’s
PacLease and Idealease truck leasing and rental operations, growing
the network to more than fifty locations and a fleet of over 10,000
vehicles. Anderson refined the leasing and rental operation to
become an important contributor to the Company’s overall financial
success. He will remain as a consultant to the Company through at
least September 30, 2024.
Anderson served as Vice President – Finance and Insurance of the
Company from 2005 until his promotion to Senior Vice President –
Finance and Insurance, and he assumed responsibility for Rush Truck
Leasing in 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Anderson served as
Manager of Continental European Operations for CIT Group and
Managing Director of European Commercial Finance for Associates
Capital Corp.
“Scott is more knowledgeable about the truck finance, insurance
and leasing industry than anyone I know and is largely responsible
for the success of our leasing and rental business,” Rush said.
“His retirement is truly bittersweet, as he will be greatly missed.
I wish him all the best as he begins this new chapter.”
Mark Kuhn will assume the role of Vice President – Leasing. Kuhn
became General Manager of Rush Truck Leasing – PacLease Division,
in 2021. He joined the Company in 2015 as General Manager of Rush
Truck Leasing – Fort Worth, after serving in numerous management
roles with PACCAR Leasing Company. “Mark’s extensive experience
with the commercial truck leasing industry and our Company puts him
in a solid position to assume the management of our Rush Truck
Leasing operations and to continue to expand its contributions to
the Company’s overall success,” Rush stated.
“While we will certainly miss both Mike and Scott, I am very
confident that Jason, Jorgan, and Mark are each well equipped to
take on their new leadership responsibilities,” added Rush.
About Rush Enterprises, Inc.
Rush Enterprises, Inc. is the premier solutions provider to the
commercial vehicle industry. The Company owns and operates Rush
Truck Centers, the largest network of commercial vehicle
dealerships in North America, with more than 150 locations in 22
states and Ontario, Canada, including 125 franchised dealership
locations. These vehicle centers, strategically located in high
traffic areas on or near major highways throughout the United
States and Ontario, Canada, represent truck and bus manufacturers,
including Peterbilt, International, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, Dennis
Eagle, IC Bus and Blue Bird. They offer an integrated approach to
meeting customer needs - from sales of new and used vehicles to
aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations plus financing,
insurance, leasing and rental. Rush Enterprises’ operations also
provide CNG fuel systems (through its investment in Cummins Clean
Fuel Technologies, Inc.), telematics products and other vehicle
technologies, as well as vehicle up-fitting, chrome accessories and
tires. For more information, please visit us at
www.rushtruckcenters.com, www.rushenterprises.com and
www.rushtruckcentersracing.com, on Twitter @rushtruckcenter and
Facebook.com/rushtruckcenters.
Certain statements contained in this release
are “forward-looking” statements (as such term is defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such
forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this
release and the Company assumes no obligation to update the
information included in this release. Because such statements
include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, future
growth rates and margins for certain of our products and services,
competitive factors, general U.S. economic conditions, economic
conditions in the new and used commercial vehicle markets, customer
relations, relationships with vendors, inflation and the interest
rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, product
introductions and acceptance, changes in industry practices, supply
chain disruptions, one-time events and other factors described
herein and in filings made by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including in our annual report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Although we
believe that these forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, there are many factors that could affect
our actual business and financial results and could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. All future written and oral forward-looking statements
by us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in
their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred
to above. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material
information as required by the federal securities laws, we do not
have any obligations or intention to release publicly any revisions
to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances in the future or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
Media Contact Rush
EnterprisesGary Willis (830) 302-5210
willisg@rushenterprises.com
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