Central Arkansas Auto Auction in Beebe, Ark., has named Jacob Warren as vice president and chief operating officer.

Auction owner Cole Hooten cited Warren’s 20-year history in the remarketing industry and background in team leadership and auction operations.

“All of us at CAAA are excited to welcome Jacob to our team,” said Hooten, a third-generation auction owner who is a managing partner along with his wife, Brooke. “His energy and enthusiasm for the auction industry are matched by tremendous skill and experience. We are confident he will make great contributions to our auction as we build and strengthen our team, our relationships with our customers and our operation.”

Jacob Warren

Warren began his remarketing career as an overnight security guard with Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auction in 2004, moving to washing and photographing cars, then into the fleet/lease office, handling sales and marketing and managing national accounts, He eventually rose to vice president and COO and served as the auction’s general manager following its 2022 sale to EBlock.

He is a graduate of the National Auto Auction Association’s leadership institute, Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auction’s Advanced Management Leadership Program and Auction Academy, where he was class valedictorian. He earned an IARA Certified Automotive Remarketer certification in 2018.

“I’ve admired CAAA as one of the strong auctions in the region, and am both honored and excited to join forces with the Hooten family as I move in my new role at their auction,” Warren said. “We share a similar vision and know the key to an auction’s success is a team of people who feel they are being led, rather than managed.

“The Hootens know people are their most valuable asset, and their genuine regard for personal relationships is evident in all they do.”

Hooten said CAAA has begun construction of a new auction facility after purchasing 15 additional acres. The eight-lane auction and office complex is scheduled to open in June 2025 to coincide with the CAAA’s 21st anniversary.

“We’re ready to take CAAA to the next level and we know Jacob will help us to do just that,” Hooten said.