CHARLOTTE, N.C. -

EchoPark Automotive has its first-ever chief operating officer.

Parent company Sonic Automotive said Thursday that it has promoted Tim Keen to the position, where he will focus solely on expanding the line of used-car stores nationally.

Keen was most recently executive vice president of operations for both Sonic and EchoPark, a role he had held since 2018.

He has been with Sonic for 15 years, including time as divisional vice president of EchoPark. In that post, Keen helped both build the EchoPark model and launch its first locations in Denver.

In his most recent post as EVP of operations, Keen oversaw Sonic’s franchised and EchoPark dealerships. Now, he will  focus squarely on EchoPark's national expansion.

He will report to Sonic president Jeff Dyke, who said in a news release: “I have tremendous respect for and trust in Tim, having worked with him for the past 30 years. We have big plans for EchoPark Automotive, and focusing Tim’s operational expertise, tenacity, and commitment to teammate development solely on the growth of EchoPark will help us achieve our goals as we continue to invest in the long-term success of the nationwide pre-owned vehicle segment.”

David Smith, who is the chief executive of Sonic and EchoPark, said in the release: “We are thrilled to promote Tim to COO of EchoPark Automotive. Tim’s dedication to EchoPark since inception, combined with his track record of operational success, make him the perfect fit to lead the team and drive our expansion plans in 2022 and beyond.”

Keen added: “It’s been an honor to work with our franchised dealerships over the past three years and collaborate with our manufacturing partners. I’m excited to jump back into EchoPark full time and work alongside our dedicated teammates as we continue to introduce our exceptional experience to new guests nationwide.”