Gempton brings nearly two decades of automotive experience, including 13 years at AutoNation leading acquisitions and divestitures for the company; will expand Kerrigan Advisors’ footprint with the opening of a new office in Miami, Florida

Kerrigan Advisors, the leading sell-side advisory firm and thought partner to auto dealers in the U.S., today announced that Chris Gempton has joined the firm as Senior Vice President, Sell-Side Advisory. Gempton brings nearly two decades of automotive experience, including 13 years at AutoNation (NYSE: AN), where he most recently served as Vice President of Corporate Development. Gempton will open Kerrigan Advisors’ Florida office in Midtown Miami to serve Kerrigan Advisors’ clients in the Southeastern U.S., which continues to be a very active market for dealership buy/sell transactions.

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Kerrigan Advisors is pleased to announce the addition of Chris Gempton as Senior Vice President, Sell-Side Advisory (Photo: Business Wire)

In Gempton’s most recent role as the head of corporate development at AutoNation, he led all acquisitions and divestitures for the company. During his tenure, he oversaw nearly $3 billion in transactions across 130+ dealerships representing more than $5 billion in revenue. Prior to AutoNation, Gempton began his career as a CPA serving the auto retail industry for MBAF (recently acquired by BDO) and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“We are beyond thrilled that Chris chose to join the Kerrigan Advisors team, further expanding our presence in Florida, an area that continues to capture record valuation as referenced in our Q1 2024 Blue Sky Report,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors, which has represented on the sale of more than 275 dealerships since inception. “With the addition of Chris, Kerrigan Advisors further cements its status as the leading sell-side advisor in the industry, bringing the team’s collective transaction experience to nearly $12 billion.”

“Chris had many options for his next career move,” said Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “We are proud he chose Kerrigan Advisors. Chris will be an exceptional member of our team and a perfect fit for our collaborative culture of excellence. His vast transaction experience and leadership of AutoNation’s corporate development group brings tremendous benefits to our growing firm and our clients.”

“Working with Kerrigan Advisors during my time at AutoNation was always a stellar experience,” said Chris Gempton. “Recognized as industry experts, and known industry-wide for their tremendous track record and Blue Sky Report®, the firm has always stood out for its professionalism, attention to detail and exceptional client service. I look forward to joining the team and contributing to their continued success.”

Founded in 2014, Kerrigan Advisors is the premier sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers in the U.S., leading the industry in proceeds per transaction and representing transactions of nearly $9 billion in the last decade, more than any firm in the industry.

About Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors is the leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide. Since its founding in 2014, the firm has led the industry with the sale of over 275 dealerships representing nearly $9 billion in client proceeds, including the third largest transaction in auto retail history – the sale of Jim Koons Automotive Companies to Asbury Automotive Group. The firm advises the industry’s leading dealership groups, enhancing value through the lifecycle of growing, operating and, when the time is right, selling their businesses. Led by a team of veteran industry experts with backgrounds in investment banking, private equity, accounting, finance and real estate, Kerrigan Advisors does not take listings, rather they develop a customized sales approach for each client to achieve their personal and financial goals. In addition to the firm’s sell-side advisory services, Kerrigan Advisors also provides a suite of consulting and investor services including growth strategy, market valuation assessments, capital allocation, transactional due diligence, open point proposals, operational improvement and real estate due diligence.

Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report®, which includes Kerrigan Advisors’ signature blue sky charts, multiples, and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download a preview of the report, click here. The firm also releases monthly The Kerrigan Index™ composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market. The Kerrigan Auto Retail Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access The Kerrigan Index™, click here. To read the 2024 Kerrigan OEM Survey, click here. To read the 2023 Kerrigan Dealer Survey, click here. Kerrigan Advisors also is the co-author of NADA’s Guide to Buying and Selling a Dealership.

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