The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance announced May 23 that it has hired Mark Coleman, the vice president of businesss development and asset remarketing at Element Fleet Management, as its full-time executive director.

Coleman will start his new position on June 12, according to a news release from IARA President Jeff Bescher. He joins IARA systems and communications manager Nikki Jones-Wenger in running the daily operations of the leading vehicle consignors trade association.

“Mark is a 25-year veteran of the wholesale automotive industry,” Bescher said.  “His experience includes time with Chrome Systems, and he was co-founder and president of Title Auctions, which developed a bespoke online auction primarily for credit unions and, most recently, with GE Fleet / Element Fleet.”

In 2008, Mark joined Paul Seger’s team at GE Fleet as co-leader of national sales for the company’s then newly formed third-party remarketing services. Today, GE Fleet is Element Fleet. The third-party remarketing service is among the largest in North America.

Seger, a longtime leader at the IARA, is Chairman of the Board and served as IARA President from 2019-2021.

Coleman has held several leadership positions at Element Fleet Management since 2015, and before that worked as national sales director of asset remarketing for GE Capital.

Coleman holds a B.A. from DePaul University and an M.A. from Gonzaga University in Organizational Leadership. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife of 33 years. They have one daughter who recently graduated from college in Southern California.

Coleman succeeds former executive director Tony Long, who resigned May 5 after serving in the post for almost 10 years.

“We are excited to have Mark in this position, so join us in welcoming him to the IARA,” Bescher said in the release.

Coleman will attend his first IARA Summer Roundtable as executive director Aug 22-24 in Chicago.