Asbury Automotive Group has promoted Dean Calloway, a longtime attorney for the company, to the position of senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.

The promotion is part of the company’s transition plan following the retirement of senior vice president, chief legal officer and secretary George Villasana, which became effective June 30. Villasana will serve as a special advisor to the company through March 31, 2025.

Calloway joined Asbury as assistant general counsel in 2013, became associate general counsel in 2017 and was promoted to vice president and associate general counsel in August 2022. During that tenure, the company said, he has taken the lead on commercial litigation, cybersecurity issues, corporate governance matters, franchise and OEM matters, and employment issues, as well as serving as assistant corporate secretary.

“I am very confident in Dean’s ability to lead the Asbury legal department as we continue on our exciting path forward as a company,” president and CEO David Hult said.

Asbury, based in Duluth, Ga., operates 157 new vehicle dealerships as well as service contract provider Total Care Auto and 37 collision repair centers.

Hendrick brings new BMW showroom concept to Texas

Hendrick Automotive Group is bringing BMW’s Retail Next showroom to Texas.

The dealership group has opened BMW of McKinney in McKinney, Texas. It’s Hendrick’s second BMW franchise in Texas, but it’s the state’s first ground-up BMW facility featuring the automaker’s new design concept, which the automaker calls “holistic experience for customers throughout every online or offline interaction they have with the dealership.”

Hendrick said the BMW of McKinney is designed to engage customers and highlight the brand’s “sustainable and aspirational lineup of driver-centric cars and sports activity vehicles,” using an open floor plan with soft tones, natural lighting and environmental efficiency.

The new facility offers amenities such as free wi-fi, coffee and snack bars, customer work stations and a retail store featuring BMW apparel and accessories. The service department features a climate-controlled service drive, 47 bays and two alignment machines. The dealership also includes latest electric vehicle and charging station technology.

The dealership is M Certified, which gives it access to BMW’s high-performance M models and products, as well as staff training specific to those cars and products.

The new store is Hendrick’s second in McKinney, joining Honda Cars of McKinney, which opened in 1987.

“For 37 years, we’ve enjoyed a terrific relationship with the people of McKinney,” chairman and CEO Rick Hendrick said in a news release. “Our new facility will allow us to support this growing, vibrant community and offer customers a truly world-class experience.”

Hendrick Automotive Group now operates 94 dealership locations, 21 collision centers and four accessories distributor installers in 13 states. That includes nine BMW franchises, which have combined to earn BMW’s Center of Excellence award 45 times.

“We could not ask for a better longstanding business partner than BMW,” market area vice president John Desmond said. “Having worked with them for more than 40 years now, each facility we build is a true collaboration.

“We feel this facility is a design benchmark for the region, and our North Dallas customers will benefit from our commitment to the brand, product knowledge and focus on next-level service.”

Johnny Secondo, previously general manager of Hendrick Auto’s Mall of Georgia MINI in the Atlanta area, has been named GM of BMW of McKinney.