Mike Stanton, who has served since 2018 as the National Automobile Dealers Association’s chief operating officer, will ascend to NADA president on Jan. 1.

The current president, Peter Welch, announced his retirement earlier this year and will lead the association for the remainder of 2020. Welch has held the post since 2013.

"The NADA is a great organization representing one of America’s most important industries," said Stanton, 52. "It is an honor to be chosen for this role, in this pivotal time for dealers, and I am excited to get started." 

The NADA’s 63-member board of directors on Oct. 20 also elected Paul Walser as its 2021 chairman and Michael Alford as vice chairman.

"I’m humbled by the continued confidence of my fellow dealers," said Walser, who represents Minnesota’s new-car dealers on the NADA board. "I promise to do the very, very best I can, and I will be looking for a lot of hand-raisers, because this will be a team effort all the way."

Walser, 65, who currently serves as NADA vice chairman, will succeed Rhett Ricart. Floridian Tom Castriota was elected as secretary, and Gary Gilchrist from Washington will serve as the 2021 treasurer.

Stanton currently oversees daily operations of the association. He previously served as vice president and chief operating officer of the NADA Used Car Guide, which was sold to JD Power in 2015. Stanton also had several roles with the NADA’s industry relations team advocating for dealers.