Ann Fandozzi will become chief executive officer of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers and join the company’s board of directors, effective January 6.
Fandozzi replaces Ravi Saligram, who held the CEO position since 2014. In June, Saligram announced he was leaving the company for personal and family reasons, effective Oct. 1.
Before joining Ritchie Bros, Fandozzi was CEO of ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company, where she engineered a step-change in profitability and laid the foundation for an all-new customer experience through technology.
“Ann is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of designing and executing winning strategies and driving profitable growth”, said Bev Briscoe, chair of the Ritchie Bros board. “She brings a strong customer focus, deep experience in technology and outstanding management capabilities that will further Ritchie Bros’ strategic transformation as a multi-channel, technology-enabled global business.”
Fandozzi was CEO of ABRA Auto Body and Glass from 2016 to 2019. Prior to joining ABRA, she was the CEO of vRide, a carpooling platform that works with private and public employers. Prior to the CEO roles, Fandozzi served in several executive positions for Whirlpool, including eBusiness, Direct-to-Consumer, and Sears/Kenmore.
Fandozzi joined Whirlpool from DaimlerChrysler, where she led the Global Family Vehicle business and is credited with the invention and development of the Stow-N-Go fold flat seats. Earlier in her career, she gained significant experience in consumer marketing, product development and engineering at Ford Motor Company, McKinsey & Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
“I am honored and excited to lead Ritchie Bros. at an important time in the Company’s history,” said Fandozzi. “Ritchie Bros. has extraordinary assets – starting with its talented employees, deep customer base, leading market position and unmatched technology. I am energized by the many opportunities we have to expand our global iconic brand which has earned the trust of our customers by delivering the products, services, and unmatched value to help them build and grow their businesses for over 60 years.”
During the CEO transition period, Ritchie Bros President Karl Werner and chief financial officer Sharon Driscoll served as interim co-CEOs. Ina news release, Briscoe thanks Driscoll and Werner for their “commitment and oversight” during the transition period.
“By ensuring that Ritchie Bros. maintained its momentum, the Board was able to conduct a thoughtful, robust process that led to the recruitment of the right executive to lead the Company forward,” Briscoe said.
