ARLINGTON, Texas -

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association has a new chief executive officer.

Hired for the role and replacing longtime CEO Steve Jordan, who left in August and is now an executive at KAR Global, is Robert Voltmann, who comes over to NIADA from the third-party logistics industry.

Voltmann was most recently the president and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association, a post he held for 23 years.

Prior to that, he was National Industrial Transportation League’s director of policy. Voltmann also served in the Interstate Commerce Commission for President George H.W. Bush.

NIADA president Louis Tedeschi explained the board’s choice of a CEO outside the used-car business was due to “his experience in developing a large trade organization.”

Tedeschi said: “Our association has grown immensely in the past several years, and the board felt we needed a fresh viewpoint to help us adapt to our growth.

“Bob will be focused on helping the board achieve our goals, such as improving our Dealer 20 Groups program, education and member benefits. I personally am excited to work with him on those projects,” he said.

Voltmann added: “Together we will traverse the rapidly changing technology landscape, strengthen our state associations, expand education and build on NIADA’s successful advocacy program at both the federal and state levels.

“The great Wayne Gretzky said, ‘You have to skate to where the puck is going to be,’ and that’s what we will help NIADA members do to remain successful. I look forward to seeing you at meetings and at your stores.”