Haynes to Retire As Gulf States Toyota President
Toby Hynes, 64, will retire as president of Gulf States Toyota Inc., effective June 30.
Dan Friedkin, chairman of Friedkin Group, the parent of Gulf States Toyota, is leading a search for an outsider to replace Hynes, Friedkin said in a statement. Daryl Kenningham will continue as Gulf States Toyota's senior vice president.
Gulf States Toyota, of Houston, is the privately held distributor of Toyota and Scion vehicles in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma, reported Automotive News.
It is one of only two independent distributors of Toyota vehicles in the United States. The other is Southeast Toyota Distributors, a unit of JM Family Enterprises Inc. of Deerfield Beach, Fla.
In 1999, Hynes replaced Earl Hesterberg as president of Gulf States Toyota. Before that, he worked at Ford Motor Co. for 30 years in a variety of sales, marketing and financial positions.
Hynes will remain on the board of Friedkin Group. Besides Gulf States Toyota, Friedkin Group owns such related companies as Gulf States Financial Services Inc., Gulf States Toyota Marketing Co., GST Transport Systems and Open Road Rent A Car.
More Industry

California Calling? What's Up With the State's New CARS Act?
Should auto dealers outside of California be concerned about its new price-transparency law? Yes, and you can guide them in the right direction.
Read More →
Tennessee Transaction Latest in Buy-Sell Flurry
Four stores move from a longtime local family business to one of the country’s biggest automotive groups as part of the industry’s continued consolidation.
Read More →
SUV Joins Safety Rankings
Thanks to a seat belt redesign, the Nissan Kicks has earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Read More →
Nebraska Rooftop Changes Hands
The Gregg Young Automotive Group has sold its second dealership to Janssen Auto Group, both in Plattsmouth, Neb.
Read More →
Penske Auto Group Deal a Record
The deal to take the dealership and transportation services company private sets a new pace for industry buy-sell transactions.
Read More →
War Toll a Damper on Used Auto Prices
Cox Automotive found wholesale depreciation to be elevated in September amid high fuel prices and this year's unusual hurricane season.
Read More →
Bridge the Maintenance Gap
With many drivers missing recommended maintenance, service departments offering transparency and efficiency have a better chance of reaching financially strained consumers.
Read More →
California Store Has New Owner
The longtime dealership in the northern part of the state is known for robust fleet sales and has served the state capital for 115 years.
Read More →
BMW Plant Pursues Cleaner Energy
BMW Group Plant Leipzig has utilized hydrogen to help power its production since 2013, but a new pipeline is planned to take it to another level.
Read More →
Auto Affordability Inches Up
The latest Cox Automotive and Moody’s Analytics index shows a slight increase in new-vehicle affordability despite high prices.
Read More →