Retail Expert Joseph Najar Joins Portfolio Sales Team
Portfolio’s national sales team adds Reinsurance Specialist Joseph F. Najar. The position works closely with dealer principals on business strategy and requires thorough knowledge of dealership operations. Najar joins Managing Director Ryan Hanlon expanding the company’s national client footprint. Najar most recently served as General Sales Manager for Rusnak Audi in Pasadena, CA.
“I began my career in the technology sector serving Fortune 500 and start-up companies.”
Najar’s technology roots include co-founding SageMetrics, an enterprise-wide data-mining and reporting company; managing Earthlink Networks’ DSL deployment team; and wide-ranging technology roles with the Walt Disney Company.
“After the dotcom bust I followed my brother’s advice and migrated to retail automotive. I soon fell in love with the car business,” Najar said. He served many franchises and dealer groups, including Van Nuys CDRJ, Audi Hawaii Jaguar Land Rover in Honolulu, Audi Auto Gallery in Woodland Hills, CA, and both the Galpin Automotive Group and First Automotive Group in Southern California.
“I started on the sales floor and rose over the years through F&I, used car and new car manager positions, and finally general sales manager.”
“My tech background helped lead stores into today’s dealership technology strategies. I was successful along the way, but when I learned about Portfolio from Ryan, I could see it offered the best chance to combine my experience in retail management, finance, and strategic thinking in service to the goals of dealer-owners.”
“I am delighted Joe agreed to sign on with us,” Hanlon said. “I have known him for years and witnessed his high performance in the stores. I was always impressed. I look forward to our success, bringing the best reinsurance program and F&I support to dealers near and far. Working with a pro like Joe is another reason to charge into each day making dealers more successful.”
Chief Sales Officer, Dan Haugen, added, “Joe is an impressive industry executive. He embodies the retail experience we want on our sales team to engage with dealer clients. Ryan is a dynamo and I know he and Joe will make a great team. I look forward to great things from them.”