DAYTON, Ohio -

Reynolds and Reynolds wants to be an important conduit in connection with dealership, automakers and the rest of the industry.

So, on Thursday, the company announced today the expansion of its customer ambassador initiative with the addition of a new industry relations role.

Reynolds explained the goal of the new position — which is being take on by Shawn Leibold —will be to establish closer working relationships with the various industry groups and associations that dealers work with in running their businesses.

“We recognize the important role many industry groups play for dealers and OEMs,” Reynolds vice president of customer relations and chief customer ambassador Dave Bates said in a news release. “To put more substance behind our involvement with these groups, we are adding a dedicated role on our team.”

Bates highlighted that Leibold joins Reynolds with more than two decades of prior customer relations leadership at the company and, more recently, with the Western & Southern Tennis Tournament, a top professional tennis event and one of the last stops on the U.S. Open Series prior to the U.S. Open.

“I have known Shawn since he started with Reynolds and have long admired his skill in working with customers and customer groups,” Bates said. “As we continue working to aggressively grow our footprint in automotive, deepening our partnerships with associations and key influencers is critical.

“Shawn’s background and skills fit perfectly for this role and we are thrilled to have him as a part of our team,” Bates continued.

Leibold, who has been a director of business development outside the automotive industry for the past 12 years, said he’s excited to be back at Reynolds with the company’s renewed focus on industry partnerships.

“As we look to the future, it’s clear now is the time to build and strengthen meaningful relationships across the automotive ecosystem,” Leibold said in the news release. “We have an opportunity to reimagine how we all work together with the ultimate goal of continued dealer and manufacturer success.

“Reynolds has a storied 150-plus year history and I couldn’t be more excited to help build on that tradition alongside some of the best people in the industry,” he continued. “But most importantly, I’m looking forward to fulfilling this new position of responsibility — and that means bringing a proactive and collaborative mindset to our industry relationships, listening to their input, and forging a constructive path forward together for the benefit of all parties.”