AutoNation has a new chief operating officer.

The retailer said Friday afternoon that hired for the COO role is Jeff Parent, who was most recently president and general manager at Gulf States Toyota.

Parent’s background also includes time in senior executive positions at Nissan Canada as well as a regional vice president role for Volkswagen of America.

Parent is expected to start at AutoNation on Oct. 16.

“Jeff Parent is a proven leader with an excellent track record of success across multiple aspects of the automotive and personal transportation landscapes,” AutoNation CEO Mike Manley said in a news release. “His deep understanding of sales, supply chain management, and business strategy will be invaluable as we continue to expand our footprint and enhance our customer offerings.”

Parent added: “I am excited to join AutoNation, a company known for its customer-centric approach and industry leadership. I look forward to working as part of a talented AutoNation team to continue the focus on strengthening the operations, developing more innovative services, and providing the best possible experience for customers.

“The coming few years are going to offer a unique opportunity for AutoNation with its great brand portfolio and multichannel approach to progressively differentiate itself in the industry and in the eyes of our customers.”

Steve Kwak, who is the COO of franchised business, is leaving AutoNation after Sept. 30 to pursue another opportunity.

According to the company’s investor relations page, Gianluca Camplone is COO of the Precision Parts Business and is executive vice president and head of mobility, business strategy and development.

Dave Koehler is COO of AutoNation’s non-franchised business.