John White, President and CEO of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA)
John White, the new President and CEO of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), recognizes he is replacing an industry legend, but says he’s up for the challenge of leading Canada’s national dealer association.
White, an automotive industry veteran with decades of experience in the retail and manufacturing side of the business, replaces Rick Gauthier, who led the organizatioW)WWn for 20 years, and who announced in November 2015 he was retiring. Gauthier will stay with the organization while it transitions to its new leadership.
Gauthier has cast a long shadow over the industry for decades, is highly respected and has been a fierce advocate for dealer issues, going toe to toe with manufacturers, governments, banks, tax collectors — and anyone threatening to disrupt business for dealers.
White says Gauthier will be instrumental in helping pass along the institutional and industry knowledge he has acquired over the years. “It’s an honour and a pleasure to have been selected to lead this organization,” says White, in an exclusive interview with Canadian auto dealer in his Markham, Ont. office. “This is mentally stimulating and very challenging. It’s an opportunity for me to use the experience I’ve had.”
During his first days on the job, White has jumped right in, taking part in a recent CADA Board meeting in Victoria, B.C., where he met with CADA Board members, staff and the heads of the provincial dealer associations. “You can see that it’s a good group, and you can see everyone is going in the same direction,” says White. “My impressions of the organization are that it’s very well run, it’s very professional.”
He describes the efficient way that the CADA Board meeting ran as “a notch above” the proceedings of other organizations he’s been a part of.
White also chaired a CADA Town Hall event recently where various CADA team members and partners briefed him about the work they do for the association.
Earning trust of dealers
White says he recognizes that he needs to earn the trust of dealers, and is prepared to dive in.
“The dealers can rest assured that I will be going to bat for them,” says White. “Advocacy work is not foreign to me,” he says, adding that he is heading off to Ottawa soon to meet with government representatives. “It’s about getting in there quickly and building relationships.”
He says one of his immediate priorities is meeting with the leaders of the provincial associations to continue the association’s work at further strengthening relations between the national and provincial associations. “We are in the people business. I have to get out there, I have to know them and hear what their issues are,” he says.
OEM experience a bonus
White says his extensive OEM experience will prove to be an invaluable asset in helping him understand their perspective on issues affecting dealers. His experience on the board of the Global Automakers of Canada has also positioned him well to understand the forces affecting the auto retail industry.
“I am in the fortunate position of having the OEM experience, I also have experience on the financial services side, and I did spend my first 10 years at the retail level,” says White. “I always found when I was on the OEM side of the table that I had an understanding of the dealer business.”
White served as President & CEO of Volkswagen Group of Canada from 2008-2013 and in other positions with Volkswagen Credit Canada.
White was President & Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Australia from 2013-2015.
He’s also held multiple positions with General Motors of Canada.
White has held numerous board positions with automotive-related organizations and volunteers with Muscular Dystrophy Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree Major, Administrative Management, from Concordia University.
