COX Automotive Australia (CAA) has appointed automotive executive Kevin Nicholls as its head of marketing, based at the company’s Altona site in Melbourne.

He joins CAA with vast experience, having served in senior marketing roles at Porsche Cars Australia. He also spent six years as marketing director at Jaguar Land Rover Australia before starting his own consultancy firm in 2020.

Mr Nicholls has also served at management level for Porsche in the United States and Britain, and has worked as marketing and business development consultant for Australian motoring event company Targa, working on the ‘Tour’ component of Targa driving events.

CAA said that Mr Nicholls brings expertise in all areas of business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing and brand strategy, communications and management, as well as experience in both the retail and wholesale sides of the Cox Automotive business.

He joins CAA on a contract basis following Isabel Forrest’s departure for a period of parental leave.

Mr Nicholls will report to the director of strategy and business transformation, Matt McAuley.

CAA provides leading digital retail and data solutions, and automotive remarketing and de-fleet services.

Some of its brands include Manheim auctions, Kelley Blue Book valuations, the Sell My Car vehicle buying service, and Xtime customer experience software for dealers.

CAA is part of Cox Automotive, the world’s largest automotive services organisation, headquartered in the United States.

By Neil Dowling