The Auto Care Association has appointed Bill Hanvey as its president and chief executive officer. On Dec. 1, Hanvey will succeed Kathleen Schmatz who is retiring.

Hanvey has more than 25 years of experience in the auto care industry. Most recently Hanvey was senior vice president of programs and member services at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.

“On behalf of the board of directors, we welcome Bill Hanvey to the Auto Care Association,” said Rick Jago, chairman of the Auto Care Association board. “In his new role as chief executive, Bill will be responsible for leading the association at this critical time, as the industry evolves and is witnessing rapid advances in technology, globalization and the reshaping of many traditional industry business models.”

Prior to joining AASA in 2012, Hanvey served as vice president of sales and marketing for The Schaeffler Group. Over his career he also worked with Dorman Products, FleetPride and Tenneco Automotive.

“It is my honor to have been selected as the next CEO of the Auto Care Association and to build upon the foundation that Kathleen Schmatz and the entire Auto Care Association team have built,” said Hanvey. “We are an industry undergoing tremendous transformation and I look forward to leading the association in providing the global business intelligence, collaboration and advocacy to ensure our members’ success. The ultimate right for the consumer to not only choose where to have their vehicle serviced and repaired, but to determine who has access to the data communicated from their vehicle via telematics, is the cornerstone of the independent auto care industry and we must preserve that.”