SARASOTA, Fla. — Leedom Group has named its senior vice president of dealer operations.

Taking on this position is Jerry "Butch" Moore, who will oversee five of the company's buy-here, pay-here dealerships in Florida and Georgia. These five locations sell more than 3,000 units per year, according to the company.

"Butch has been instrumental in the growth of our dealerships," said Chris Leedom, president of Leedom Group.

"He has developed a great team of people in our AutoMaxx of Florida and AutoMaxx of Georgia stores," Leedom explained. "In this new role he will be our key executive responsible for all dealership operations and we look forward to continued growth."

Moore joined the Leedom Group in 2000 and has served as a Leedom Twenty Group moderator, a program designed to improve dealer profitability through education, training and higher dealer operation efficiencies.

"This is a fantastic opportunity," said Moore, who has more than 28 years' experience in the independent auto business.

"There are many challenges in overseeing one of the largest buy-here, pay-here operations in the country, and I'm fired up by my appointment to this key Leedom Group position," he stated.

Previously, Moore had a 10-year stint as president of a single-point independent dealership retailing more than 1,200 vehicles per year. Additionally, he had five years working for another independent dealership that moved more than 5,000 cars per year.

Leedom officials noted that his background in accounting and management will be a benefit in his daily analysis of operational information in the new position.

For more information on Leedom Group, visit www.leedomgroup.com.