Executive Biographies

James P. Hallett

Jim Hallett is chief executive officer and director of KAR Auction Services, Inc., a global auction corporation that operates a total auction solution. The company offers a wide range of vehicle remarketing services—from whole car and salvage, to financing, remarketing, technology, inspection and repair services.

As CEO and director, Hallett heads the strategic planning for the entire organization, which includes leading KAR Auction Services’ executive management team. In this role, Hallett oversees the development and implementation of the organization’s objectives and identifies synergies across business units to optimize future growth.

Hallett directs all the KAR Auction Services' businesses, including ADESA, a wholesale used vehicle operation; Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA), a salvage auto auction company; and Automotive Finance Corporation (AFC), a capital funding source for the used vehicle industry.

Hallett joined the company in 1996, relocating from his native Canada to Indianapolis to serve as president and CEO of ADESA. During his time as CEO, ADESA grew from 16 to 53 whole-car auctions and expanded its financing company (AFC) to fully service the industry. He also solidified ADESA’s presence in the remarketing industry by entering the salvage vehicle market in both the U.S. and Canada.

From 2005-2007, Hallett was president of Columbus Fair Auto Auction in Columbus, Ohio. In April 2007, he returned to ADESA in the role of president and CEO. In September 2009, he was promoted to his current role as CEO and director of KAR Auction Services.

Hallett entered the retail automotive business in 1975, and later owned and managed a number of new car franchises. In 1990, he opened Ottawa Auto Dealers Exchange and The Greater Halifax Dealer Exchange.

A graduate of Canada’s Algonquin College, Hallett holds a Dealer Management Certification from General Motors University. He has received several industry awards, including the Ring of Honor from the National Independent Dealers Association. In 2008, he was recognized as Remarketer of the Year at the CAR Conference, and then received the Pioneer Award at the NAAA Conference in recognition of a lifetime of leadership and contribution to the auction industry.

Tom Caruso

Tom Caruso is an auto auction industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience. He began his career at Concord Auto Auction as factory manager, and quickly moved through the ranks to become general manager.

When ADESA purchased Concord Auto Auction in 1992, Caruso continued in his role as general manager. It was under his leadership that the auction relocated to its current location.

In 1998, Caruso was promoted to regional vice president of ADESA's northeast region. In 2007, he was promoted to executive vice president of eastern operations. Then, in 2008, he was again promoted to the position of chief operating officer for the company's entire auction operations throughout the United States.

Through the years, Caruso has served in many different capacities within the industry. He is a past board member of the National Vehicle Leasing Association and a past board member of the Massachusetts Independent Dealers Association. In 2006, he was awarded the MIADA's highest honor, their &quotLifetime Achievement Award." In 2005, Caruso was elected president of the National Auto Auction Association, the highest honor in the industry.

Sanjiv Agrawal

Sanjiv Agrawal has more than 25 years of accounting and business experience. During this time, he has served as controller at several companies in a variety of industries.

Prior to joining ADESA Los Angeles as the auction’s controller in 2003, he was the controller for the U.S. Western Distribution region for a worldwide distributor of automotive supplies, fasteners and chemicals and later became the controller for their entire U.S. operations. Most recently, Agrawal served as regional business manager of ADESA’s Western region.

Agrawal holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in finance.

Jeff Bescher

Jeff Bescher's career with ADESA began in 1995 when he was hired as director of sales, national accounts. He served in this role until 2005. In 2007, he returned to ADESA as vice president, commercial sales and operations. In 2010, he was named senior vice president of sales. Then, in 2012, Jeff moved into his current role of senior vice president of inside sales and customer relationship management.

Prior to his return to ADESA, Bescher served as group vice president, remarketing and fleet services, for Emkay, Inc. In this role, he was responsible for the operations of the Vehicle Remarketing Department, Accident Management Services and the EMKAY Motors Division.

Jeff started his career with General Electric in the Financial Management Program after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. He held various financial positions in three General Electric businesses (GE Lighting, GE Aircraft Engines, and GE Capital Auto Auctions) before joining GE Capital Auto Leasing as Regional Remarketing Manager. He subsequently became Regional Sales Manager for Manheim Automotive Financial Services, followed by Director of Sales, National Accounts for ADESA.

Mike Caggiano

Mike Caggiano's entry into the remarketing industry came in 1985 with a Massachusetts-based leasing company, eventually serving as their general sales manager.

Caggiano joined ADESA Boston in 1996 as sales manager, where he was in charge of the auction's dealer consignment sale. In 2000, he opened ADESA Concord, a greenfield site in Acton, Mass., and served as the auction's general manager.

In 2007, Caggiano was promoted to his current role as regional vice president of ADESA's eastern region. He holds a bachelor's degree in management from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire.

Tim DeBerry

Tim DeBerry is a seasoned veteran in the vehicle remarking industry with more than 20 years of experience with both ADT and Manheim Auctions.

In 2007, he was named regional vice president of ADESA's western region. Prior to this, he served as general manager at Manheim's Colorado Auto Auction.

DeBerry was named the 1999 Auction Man of the Year by the Florida Independent Auto Dealers Association, which also named him the state's Most Valuable Player in the Auction Industry in 2003.

Jason Ferreri

As senior vice president of commercial sales, Jason Ferreri oversees commercial sales accounts throughout the United States, including responsibility for all consignor remarketing programs. Prior to stepping into this role, he served as senior vice president of commercial accounts for OPENLANE.

Since joining ADESA in 2004, he has held various management positions including vice president of sales and executive director of sales for national accounts. Ferreri also served as vice president of eBusiness sales and operations, where he was responsible for all of the company’s Internet remarketing initiatives.

Ferreri has been in the vehicle remarketing industry for more than 15 years. He began his career with Mercedes-Benz Financial (MBF) in Fort Worth, Texas, and held various roles in vehicle remarketing with both MBF and Chrysler Financial. Following these roles, he also held a position as vice president, national auction manager with Chase Auto Finance in Tampa, Fla.

He holds a bachelor's degree in financial management from Valparaiso University.

Dennis Jones

Dennis Jones made a career change when he joined ADESA in 1997 as fleet/lease manager for the company's Indianapolis auctions. He had spent the previous 13 years as owner and pharmacist at Westland Drugs, Inc., in his hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Opting to stay in the automotive business, Jones took on new, subsequent roles of increased responsibility at ADESA, including general manager in Indianapolis and regional vice president for the Midwestern portion of the United States. In 2007, Jones was named president of ADESA's sister company, AutoVIN.

A 1976 graduate of the University of Kentucky-Lexington with a bachelor's of science degree in pharmacy, Jones also served in the United States Marine Corps as a sergeant E5 in Vietnam from 1966 to 1970. Jones and his family reside in Roswell, Georgia.

Tom Kontos

Tom Kontos joined ADESA in 2000 as vice president of industry relations and analytical services, providing the vehicle remarketing industry information and insight along with various customer-related analytical reports and strategic studies.

In 2007, he was promoted to his current role of executive vice president, customer strategies and analytics. In this position, Kontos interfaces with key ADESA clients and dealers, Wall Street and automotive analysts, and member of the media, providing his analytical services in a variety of formats. These formats include annual market reports, web-based information products and dealer surveys. He is also the author of Global Vehicle Remarketing (GVR) and Pulse.

Prior to joining ADESA, Kontos helped launch and was the principal author of five editions of the ADT Automotive Used Car Market Report. His 20-plus years of experience in market research, financial analysis and strategic planning also include experience with W.R. Grace & Co., Vulcan Materials Company and Rogers Group, Inc.

A native of Washington, D.C., Kontos holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in mineral resource economics from The Pennsylvania State University. He has also taught at Birmingham-Southern College and Trevecca University and participated in the master of liberal arts and science program at Vanderbilt University.

Jerry Kroshus

Jerry Kroshus has served in senior management roles in the vehicle remarketing industry for more than 19 years. In 2008, he was named president of PAR North America, a subsidiary of ADESA.

During the course of his career, Kroshus built strong industry relationships and gained significant experience, including his previous role of vice president/director of remarketing at HSBC Auto Finance. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing remarketing operations and relationship management activity.

Kroshus also spent 14 years with CitiFinancial Auto, advancing to the position of vice president and national remarketing sales manager. He played a key role in helping CitiFinancial Auto become the first national consignor to fully utilize AutoIMS as well as become one of the first consignors to develop a national certified program. Kroshus has a bachelor's degree in business administration from North Dakota State University.

Paul Lips

Paul Lips has served in several different roles during his career with ADESA. He joined the company's finance department in 1996, becoming ADESA's corporate controller in 1997, was again promoted in 2001 to chief financial officer, and in 2004 was appointed to the position of vice president of investor relations and planning for ADESA, Inc.

In May of 2005, Lips was once again promoted to serve as senior vice president of operations for ADESA Corp. Currently, Lips is the executive vice president of operations and finance for ADESA.

Prior to joining ADESA, Lips spent six years with an Indianapolis company, Geo. S. Olive & Co. (now BKD, LLC), managing audits of multiple clients in various industries.

A native of South Bend, Ind., Lips holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. In 1993, he obtained his certified public accountant designation and is currently a member of the Indiana Certified Public Accountants Society.

Gregg Maidment

A seasoned auto auction veteran, Gregg Maidment began his career with ADESA in 1986 as owner/partner of Canadian Auction Group, located in Winnipeg, Canada. In 1999, he was promoted to general manager and regional vice president of Western Canada.

A graduate of Reisch Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, Maidment began his career as an auctioneer at the Montreal/Toronto Auto Auction, from 1985 to 1986. He has continued his professional education and training earning various certifications, including: Leadership Excellence from Disney University in Florida; The Human Operating System from Senn Delaney Leadership in California; and Public Presentations from Rogen Canada in Ontario.

In addition, Gregg is a long-time member of NAAA. He has also received many professional awards such as the Golden Gavel from the Ford Motor Company, Canada in 1998 and in 2003. And in 1999, he received Canada's DaimlerChrysler Achievement Award.

Michelle Mallon

Michelle Mallon joined ADESA in August 2002 as corporate counsel of the legal department. She was promoted to senior corporate counsel in January 2005. She was again promoted in 2007 to her current role as vice president of legal for ADESA.

Prior to joining ADESA, Mallon practiced corporate law at an Indianapolis law firm, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, and real estate.

Mallon holds a bachelor's degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and graduated with her doctor of jurisprudence from Indiana School of Law in Indianapolis. She is a member of the local, state and national bar associations.

Jane Morgan

Jane Morgan is an auction veteran with a finance background and nearly two decades of auction experience in a variety of roles. She has served as assistant general manager at ADESA Dallas, and then regional manager and general manager of ADESA Charlotte. In 2007, she was promoted to regional vice president of ADESA's eastern region. In 2008, she was named president of the company’s specialty auctions division.

Morgan is very active within the industry. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for NAAA, and she is a co-chair of the National Dealer Affairs/Institutional Sellers Committee, as well as a member of this group's Legislative Committee. Morgan is also Past-President of the Southern Auto Auction Association.

Bob Rauschenberg

Bob Rauschenberg has spent his entire professional career in the automotive industry, initially entering it as a fleet administrator with Allstate Insurance Company, followed by a move into a managerial role with a major car rental company.

Later, he became vice president of remarketing for two of the largest fleet and lease companies in North America. He has held key positions in the remarketing industry for many years, including president of ADT Auction Services Division and executive vice president of sales and marketing for ADESA from 1995 until 2000.

Rauschenberg joined ABC Auto Auctions in 2000 and became its president, where he worked until April 2007. Then, in April 2007, Rauschenberg returned to ADESA to once again serve in the role of executive vice president of sales and marketing.

He is a graduate of Emporia State University in Kansas with a bachelor's degree in marketing

Lisa Scott

Lisa Scott joined ADESA in 1999. In her current position as vice president of sales and marketing for ADESA Canada, she is responsible for the development and strategies to increase sales, sales efficiency, profitability and brand awareness for the Canadian market.

Previously general manager of ADESA Halifax, Scott made critical operational changes during her time in this role, leading to this site's recent successes.

Scott has more than 22 years experience in the automobile industry, professional auctioneering and auction management. In addition, she is also a successful entrepreneur, having owned and operated a telecommunications franchise for 13 years.

She is a graduate of the Southwestern School of Auctioneering and serves on various industry boards including Sales Training Experts. An avid community supporter, Scott also volunteers as an auctioneer for a number of charitable causes.

Carol Sewell

Carol Sewell joined ADESA in 2006 as vice president of marketing. In this role, she is responsible for integrated and targeted marketing programs for the company's key customers as well as building a best-in-class identity program and marketing organization for ADESA.

Prior to joining ADESA, Sewell served as vice president, brand development, for Conseco, a Fortune 500 financial services company. Sewell has more than 20 years of experience in managing brand strategies and marketing programs and has worked in a variety of fields such as financial services, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

Her work in advertising, sales promotions and incentives, sports marketing, corporate positioning, and product branding have broken new ground and won numerous awards. Sewell holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Indianapolis.

Doug Shore

Doug Shore has held a number of corporate and auction leadership roles within the company since joining ADESA in 1997 as an assistant controller. He served as controller at ADESA Indianapolis from 1997 to 1998. In 1998, he was named assistant general manager of ADESA Indianapolis.

In 2000, Shore joined ADESA Toronto as general manager. In 2001, he was named director of acquisition and then was again promoted in 2002 to vice president of operations. Most recently, he served as regional business manager of ADESA’s East region and Midwest region.

Shore holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Butler University in Indianapolis and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is active in NAAA, and also serves on the IARA Standards Committee.

Stephane St-Hilaire

In 1998, Stephane St-Hilaire joined ADESA Canada as chief financial officer. From here, he quickly moved into other senior positions throughout the organization. In 1999, St-Hilaire became ADESA Montreal's general manager. He was promoted again in 2000 to regional manager; and in 2002, St-Hilaire took on his current role of regional vice president, Eastern Canada and general manager, ADESA Montreal.

In January 2009, Stéphane was appointed to his current position of chief operating officer for ADESA Canada.

During his time with ADESA, St-Hilaire has earned a number of professional awards including: the Ford Motor Company Award, the ADESA Canada Auction of the Year Award and the ADESA Customer Service Award.

Prior to joining ADESA, St-Hilaire worked as a senior accountant at Ernst & Young and the controller at AIT Corporation. He holds a degree in commerce from Laval University, Quebec, Canada, and a degree in administration from Limoilou College, Quebec, Canada. In 1995, he also earned a chartered accountant certificate from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA)

Pat Stevens

Pat Stevens was promoted to regional vice president, western region, in 2007. Then, in 2008, he moved into his current role of regional vice president of ADESA’s central region.

Stevens brings more than 14 years of remarketing experience to his new role. He has worked in a number of roles for both ADT and ADESA, most recently as general manager of ADESA Dallas.

He is the current President-Elect of NAAA's Western Zone.

Tim Zierden

Tim Zierden is an industry leader in the areas of retail automotive operations and technology management. He began his automotive career with CarMax, where he held various senior management roles during his 10 years with the company.

Zierden joined ADESA in 2009 to head the company’s dealer services division. In this role, he oversees a diverse and dedicated team of individuals that provide support, analytics and training to the company’s dealer customers.

Prior to joining ADESA, Zierden was the assistant vice president and general manager of inventory solutions at DealerTrack, a computer software company for the automotive retail industry. His past experiences include vice president of trading operations for Lanelogic, where he created trading strategies that enabled more than 1,000 daily vehicle bids. He has also served as the operating partner in a multi-franchise new car dealership.

Zierden is regularly published and quoted in multiple industry publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.