Atlanta, Georgia, United States, November 2025 – Cox Automotive has announced the appointment of Jonathan Smoke as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, effective November 10, 2025. Smoke will succeed Amy Mills, who will retire at the end of the year after nearly 25 years of service with the company.
Since joining Cox Automotive as Chief Economist in 2017, Smoke has played an integral role in the company’s strategic planning process and has been a trusted voice within both Cox Automotive and the broader automotive industry. His ability to transform complex data into actionable insights has been key in guiding the enterprise through periods of market volatility and in positioning the company for sustainable growth.
Since January 2024, Smoke has also served as Chief Economic Advisor for Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Automotive, where he has demonstrated his capacity to connect macroeconomic trends with long-term business strategy.
“No one has a better understanding of our business and the external industry environment than Jonathan does. His counsel and expertise will be invaluable as we shape our future direction, and we have confidence in his ability to steer us to success in this expanded role,” said Steve Rowley, President, Cox Automotive.
With nearly three decades of strategic leadership experience across diverse industries, Smoke brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. Before joining Cox Automotive, he served as Chief Economist at Realtor.com and Hanley Wood, a media and market intelligence firm. Earlier in his career, he held multiple leadership positions at Beazer Homes, including Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation.
In conjunction with this announcement, Jeremy Robb has been named Interim Chief Economist to ensure continuity in economic analysis and industry insights while the search for a full-time Chief Economist is underway. Robb currently serves as Senior Director and Deputy Chief Economist at Cox Automotive.
About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and technology provider, powered by the broadest collection of first-party data from 2.3 billion online interactions annually. The company designs and delivers leading solutions for car shoppers, manufacturers, dealers, lenders, and fleets. With 29,000+ employees operating across five continents, its portfolio includes industry-leading brands such as Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, vAuto®, Dealertrack®, NextGear Capital™, CentralDispatch®, and FleetNet America®.
Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately held, Atlanta-based company with $23 billion in annual revenue.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
