Gregory Penske
Gregory Penske is the chairman/CEO of Penske Motor Group, which owns and operates Toyota, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz dealerships in California. PMG is expanding to Texas in the fall of 2017 with the opening of its Toyota franchise located in the town of Prosper, 35 miles north of Dallas. Penske is the former president and CEO of Penske Motorsports, Inc., which operated racetracks across the country, including the development of the Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) in Fontana, California. He serves on the board of directors for Penske Corporation (holding company for Penske Truck Leasing, Penske Automotive Group, and Penske Racing), Penske Automotive Group, Southern California Toyota Dealership Advertising Association, Los Angeles Sports Council, Friends of Golf, Petersen Automotive Museum, and is an advisor to Nucleus Scientific Inc. He is a member of the Toyota Parts and Service Advisory Council, the Toyota President's Cabinet and the Toyota Board of Governors and Lexus League of Elite Dealers.
Penske has been named one of the highest-rated CEOs among small and medium companies by Glassdoor, a jobs and career site, which released its annual report recognizing top leaders in companies in 2015 throughout North America and Europe. "Glassdoor’s Highest Rated CEOs 2015"; Glassdoor published June 9, 2015.
Penske is a former member of the board of birectors of the Alltel Corporation, Ares Capital Corporation, International Speedway Corporation, the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, and board of trustees of the John Thomas Dye School.
Early life
He attended the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia and graduated from Cornell University in 1984, where he earned a degree in business management. Penske also attended General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) and worked at a Chevrolet and a Cadillac-Oldsmobile dealership while in college.
Penske received the Young Leadership and Excellence Award from the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1997. His father is race car owner and entrepreneur Roger Penske.
Businessman
In 1985, he purchased a Cadillac dealership in Bakersfield, California, at age 22, becoming the youngest GM dealer ever.[1]
Penske Motor Group
Penske became the general manager at Longo Toyota in 1987, and he took over the group in 1993.[1] Penske Motor Group owns Longo Toyota, the largest car dealer in the world at over 50 acres (200,000 m2) [2] and a diverse workforce who speaks over 40 languages and dialects.
Headquartered in El Monte, Caifornia, Longo Toyota ranks as the #1 Toyota retailer in the world since 1967. Longo is the recipient of over 130 awards and recognition from Toyota Motor Sales, USA including the Toyota President's Cabinet Award, President's Award and Board of Governors.
In the fall of 2017, Longo Toyota of Prosper, located in the town of Prosper, 35 miles north of Dallas, will open for business.
Longo Lexus serves as the #1 Lexus retailer in the Western Area since 1990. An Elite of Lexus dealer since 1992, Longo Lexus received the inaugural 2014 League of Elite award, honoring a select group of dealers for overall excellence in sales, service, guest experience and satisfaction.
Lexus of Stevens Creek, located in San Jose, California, is the #1 Volume Luxury Retailer for New and Pre-Owned Sales in Northern California. An Elite of Lexus dealer since 2003, Lexus of Stevens Creek is also a recipient of the inaugural 2014 League of Elite award.
Mercedes-Benz of Marin, located in San Rafael, California, is one of 55 Mercedes-Benz dealers nationally to win the 2014 Best of the Best dealership award for excellence in sales, guest satisfaction, and service quality.
Longo Scion ranked as the #1 Scion retailer in the nation from the brand's launch in 2003 until its official closure on October 1, 2016.
References
- 1 2 Tim Keenan; June 2001; Ward's Dealer Business, Retrieved January 10, 2007
- ↑ Penske Automotive Group, Inc., Retrieved January 10, 2007
- Press release naming Gregory Penske to board of directors to ALLTEL, Retrieved January 10, 2007
- Kara Glover; "Steering for success"; published July 1, 1996; Los Angeles Business Journal; Retrieved January 10, 2007
- Terry Blount; "The drive behind Penske? Passion"; ESPN published May 22, 2009
- Brant James; "Roger Penske would like to rule forever, but who will eventually be the next Captain?"; AUTOWEEK published February 27, 2013