Sandy Schwartz Recognized as 2019 Outstanding Business Leader

ATLANTA – Cox Automotive President Sandy Schwartz has been named a 2019 Outstanding Business Leader honoree by the Northwood University Board of Trustees.

Conceived by Dr. Arthur E. Turner, co-founder of Northwood University, and established by the Northwood University Board of Trustees in 1981, the annual Outstanding Business Leader Awards program recognizes leaders in the American free-enterprise system.

Selected based on personal achievement, each awardee typifies the unique philosophy of Northwood University. Criteria used in the selection of awardees include contribution to the philosophy of private enterprise, support of the integration of business and the arts, contribution to education, economic innovation, creative marketing ideas, community involvement, religious leadership, philanthropic contributions and business success.

In a statement congratulating Schwartz on being a 2019 honoree, Dr. Keith Pretty, president and CEO, Northwood University, wrote: “Since first vested in 1981, the [Outstanding Business Leader] Award has gone to some of the most extraordinary leaders in enterprise in whose company and association we believe you belong.”

Schwartz’ career at Cox spans three decades where he has led both Cox Media Group and Cox Automotive, subsidiaries of family-owned Cox Enterprises, and been a key member of the leadership team that has grown the private company to $20 billion revenue and 60,000 employees.

Schwartz helped build the unrivaled Cox Automotive portfolio by nurturing organic growth at Autotrader and Manheim, seamlessly integrating software start-ups such as vAuto and Xtime, as well as orchestrating the $4 billion acquisition of Dealertrack and Dealer.com. Along the way, he has fostered a family-first ethic and an Open, Honest & Direct culture that routinely ranks Cox Automotive among the best places to work.

In addition to a successful business career, Schwartz has participated in extensive community service, including leadership positions at the A.C. Green Youth Foundation and the American Red Cross of Metropolitan Atlanta.

Schwartz is one of seven leaders that will be honored at the 39th Outstanding Business Leader awards gala hosted by Northwood on March 16. Joining the incoming honoree class will be more than 200 people, including past honorees, board members, Northwood students as well as family members and friends of Northwood.

Visit www.northwood.edu/obl to learn more about the honorees.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. coxautoinc.com

About Northwood University
Northwood University is committed to the most personal attention to prepare students for success in their careers and in their communities; it promotes critical thinking skills, personal effectiveness, and the importance of ethics, individual freedom and responsibility.

Private, nonprofit, and accredited, Northwood University specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education at a full-service, residential campus located in mid-Michigan. Adult Degree Programs are available in multiple states and online. The DeVos Graduate School offers day and evening programming in Michigan and Texas, and online. The Michigan-based Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity and Enterprise provides system-wide expertise in family enterprise, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and new business development. International education is offered through study abroad and in Program Centers in Switzerland, China (Changchun and Wuxi), and Sri Lanka.

For additional information regarding Northwood University, go to www.northwood.edu.

Media Contacts:
Mark Schirmer
734 883 6346
mark.schirmer@coxautoinc.com

Dara Hailes
470 658 0656
dara.hailes@coxautoinc.com