Worldpac names Dominic Garcia Chief Commercial Officer. Worldpac announces the retirement of CCO David Heine and the appointment of Dominic Garcia as his successor, effective January 1, 2026, marking a strategic leadership shift. Worldpac has announced a significant executive leadership transition scheduled for the end of the year. Chief Commercial Officer David Heine will retire following 27 years of service to the company. Dominic Garcia has been named as his successor, effective January 1, 2026. * David Heine retires after nearly three decades of service. * Dominic Garcia assumes the CCO role in January 2026. * Garcia brings 29 years of automotive industry experience. Executive transition details. Heine joined Worldpac in June 1998. He brought extensive industry expertise to the organization. His leadership was central to the company's sustained growth. He helped guide teams through an evolving automotive landscape. Before his tenure at Worldpac, Heine established a notable career. This included key leadership positions at APS (ISW Division) and Genuine Parts Company. His departure marks the end of a significant era for the distributor. Incoming leadership. Dominic Garcia currently serves as Vice President of National Sales. He will assume full responsibility for sales and marketing leadership next year. His promotion is intended to ensure a seamless transition. Garcia leverages deep industry experience. He holds a strong record of sales leadership. This background supports the company's continued focus on market excellence. Management commentary. Worldpac President and CEO John Hamilton addressed the leadership change. He acknowledged Heine's instrumental role in shaping the company. Hamilton described Heine's impact on the organization as indelible. Hamilton also expressed confidence in the incoming Chief Commercial Officer. He cited Garcia's 29 years of experience. The CEO highlighted Garcia's blend of intuition and data-driven strategy. Company overview. Worldpac operates as a wholesale distributor of original equipment (OE) and aftermarket parts. It exclusively serves professional repair shops. The company covers the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The distributor maintains a network of over 300 branches. It operates eight distribution centers. The inventory includes more than 200,000 parts for over 40 car lines. The BRAKE report is an online media platform dedicated to the automotive and commercial vehicle brake segments. Our mission is to provide the global brake community with the latest news & headlines from around the industry.

Import Vehicle Community announces 2025 People award winners. Mary is the Content Director for aftermarketNews/Counterman, and has been with Babcox Media for 37 years, serving in various editorial roles on several of the company's brands. Published: November 10, 2025 The Auto Care Association's Import Vehicle Community announced the winners of its 2025 Import Vehicle Community People Awards. The awards were presented to the winners at the Import Vehicle Community Luncheon and Awards Program, sponsored by Worldpac, during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) currently taking place in Las Vegas. The Import Vehicle Community focuses on serving the needs of all businesses engaged in import vehicle and advanced technology products and services. The Import Vehicle Community People Awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the import automotive aftermarket. The 2025 Import Vehicle Community People award winners are: Hall of Fame award recipient stephen (Steve) bearden President H.B. International marketing services, Inc. The Import Vehicle Community Hall of Fame award is intended to honor outstanding individuals in the import automotive industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness, and accomplishments have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the import industry segment and its overall growth and progress. Upon graduation from Michigan Technological University in 1970, Steve commenced his career with Walker Manufacturing Company (Tenneco) as a field sales representative. Within a year, he was promoted to headquarters in the National Account Sales Division, calling on the likes of Sears, Wards, Pennys and K-Mart. In 1978, he was promoted to Director of National Account sales. In 1997, Steve, Dave Callari and George Halford formed Global Parts Source, Inc., distributing certain products for the companies IMS represented while also becoming the largest distributor in North America of new OEM calipers sourced from TRW, PBR, Akebono, Bosch, Aisin, Nissan and Mando. Earlier this year, Steve sold his shares in GPS to Dave in order to concentrate on his IMS business initiatives. Steve has served on the Import Vehicle Community board since 2000 and was chairman from 2011 to 2015. Steve also served on the Auto Care Association board from 2016 to 2022. Industry Impact award recipient Kevin Evoy consultant, product/category management Parts Authority. The Import Vehicle Community Industry Impact award honors individuals whose outstanding performance, integrity, dignity and conscientious approach to business affairs are demonstrated as a matter of routine. The Industry Impact award has been a means by which our industry's high contributors and unsung heroes are credited and appropriately recognized. Kevin Evoy is a seasoned automotive industry professional with over 25 years of experience in both the OEM and aftermarket sectors. He currently serves as a consultant for automotive parts product management at Parts Authority, where he plays a key role in shaping product strategy, optimizing supply chains, and strengthening vendor relationships across the organization's extensive portfolio. Throughout his career, Kevin has led initiatives in product development, lifecycle management, and market analysis, bringing data-driven insights to complex business challenges. His expertise lies in aligning product performance with evolving industry demands, while maintaining a sharp focus on profitability and customer satisfaction. Kevin is known for his strategic approach to vendor negotiations and his ability to navigate global sourcing challenges. He has worked closely with manufacturers and distributors to deliver innovative solutions and streamline operations, positioning businesses for long-term success in a highly competitive market. At Parts Authority, one of the nation's largest automotive parts distributors, Kevin continues to drive value through cross-functional collaboration and operational excellence. His practical approach and deep industry knowledge make him a key contributor to initiatives focused on growth, efficiency, and sustained competitive advantage. A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Kevin has a particular passion for German cars and the engineering precision they represent. This enthusiasm fuels his dedication to the industry and his ongoing commitment to quality and performance in every facet of his work. Person of the Year award recipient Mike Mohler Executive Vice President and Chief Purchasing Officer The Automotive Parts Services Group, LLC. The Person of the Year award honors an individual for their outstanding contributions to the industry during the past 12-month period preceding the selection of the current year's award recipient. Mike Mohler is Executive Vice President and Chief Purchasing Officer at The Automotive Parts Services Group, LLC, a collaboration between The Pronto Network Purchasing Cooperative and Federated Alliance, LLC. Comprised of 333 warehouse distributor members, throughout the Americas, APSG's annual sales exceed $12 billion (USD). Mohler is responsible for the overall management of The Group's vendor relationships and overall product and brand strategy. Mohler is also actively involved in many other corporate activities, including marketing, training, data-warehousing and strategic planning. As a volunteer leader, Mohler has served the auto care industry as past chair of the Auto Care Association's Education Committee and co-chair of the Auto Care Association's Industry Task Force for Career Awareness. Currently, Mohler serves as a board member of the California Automotive Wholesaler's Association (CAWA), serving California, Nevada and Arizona. In addition to his board duties, Mohler has served as vice chairman of CAWA's Membership and Education Committee and as a Scholarship Reviewer as part of CAWA's Automotive Education Memorial Fund Scholarship Program. In 2018, Mohler was appointed to CAWA's executive board. In February 2021, Mohler was installed as chairman of the association's board of directors. Nationally, Mohler has served the auto care industry, as a member of the Auto Care Association's Marketing and Communications Committee, where, in addition to his committee duties, Mohler served as PAC leader, in driving financial support for the industry's Political Action Committee. At the same time, Mohler accepted a position on the Auto Care Association's ACPAC committee, where he continues his involvement in helping to keep our industry relevant through consumer awareness and legislative interaction. Young executive of the Year award Mallory Long Director of Vendor Relations & Marketing SSF Imported Auto Parts LLC. The Import Vehicle Community honors outstanding young executives in the import automotive industry for their dedication, enthusiasm and accomplishments. This award recognizes the leadership and integrity of executives and team leaders under the age of 40. Mallory Long is the Director of Vendor Relations & Marketing for SSF Imported Auto Parts, a leading warehouse distributor of European automotive products and tools for the independent automotive aftermarket. Celebrating 50 years of service to the automotive aftermarket in 2026, SSF pursues extensive expansion plans in both product availability and physical warehouse footprint. Mallory started her aftermarket career with Corteco, a brand of Freudenberg - NOK. As part of her various leadership positions there, she was integral in setting up the product, sales, and marketing strategies for the North American headquarters and key accounts. One of those customers was SSF, which ultimately led to Mallory joining the company in 2023. In her current role, Mallory manages relationships with SSF's vendors, including leading the outbound marketing strategies and programs targeting the European shops. With a wide variety of responsibilities, she finds the fast-paced, customer centric and "all hands-on deck" culture of SSF to be what motivates her most. Aside from her versatile position at SSF, Mallory enjoys participating in various sports leagues in her local community and spending time with her family, friends and dogs.

Advance Auto Parts plans to close 523 corporate stores, exit 204 independently owned locations and close four distribution centers in the United States by mid-2025 as it works to boost its operational productivity.The automotive aftermarket parts provider operates 4,781 stores primarily within the United States and serves 1,125 independently owned Carquest-branded stores, it said in a Thursday (Nov. 14) press release.The announcement followed the company’s sale of its wholesale operation, Worldpac, which was announced in August and closed earlier in November.“We are pleased to have made progress on our strategic actions, including the completion of the sale of Worldpac and a comprehensive operational productivity review of our business,” Advance Auto Parts President and CEO Shane O’Kelly said in the release. “We are charting a clear path forward and introducing a new three-year financial plan, with a focus on executing core retail fundamentals to improve the productivity of all our assets and to create shareholder value.”The company announced the planned store closures while reporting third-quarter earnings results showing that its net sales from continuing operations slid from $2.2 billion last year to $2.1 billion, its comparable sales decreased 2.3%, and its gross profit increased 11%, according to the release.With its strategic plan, Advance Auto Parts aims to improve its adjusted operating income margin by more than 500 basis points through fiscal year 2027 by optimizing its store operations, merchandising and supply chain, per the release.In addition to reducing its U.S. asset footprint, the company plans to standardize its store operating model, improve its labor productivity and accelerate the pace of its new store openings, according to the release.When it comes to merchandising, Advance Auto Parts aims to improve first costs, bring parts to market faster, enhance the availability of parts, and improve its gross margin by managing pricing and promotions, the release said.In its supply chain, the company plans to consolidate its distribution centers, open more market hub locations, and optimize its transportation routes and freight, per the release.“The company is executing a strategic plan to improve business performance with a focus on core retail improvements,” the release said.In the company’s Nov. 4 announcement of the closing of the sale of Worldpac, O’Kelly said the move will aid in the simplification of Advance Auto Parts’ business model.“The sale enables us to focus on actions to strengthen our blended-box business, which will elevate the performance of our core operations and support our goal of delivering consistent profitable operating results,” O’Kelly said