BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY Appoints New Sales, Marketing Directors

BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY, a supplier of technology solutions for the automotive aftermarket, has appointed two industry veterans to head up its sales and marketing operations, the company announced.

Thomas Ripple has assumed the role of sales director. Ripple has 26 years’ experience in software and software as a service (SaaS). He will be charged with conveying BOLT ON’s value proposition to auto repair operations across a variety of aftermarket subcategories. His specific responsibilities will be to streamline and improve the sales process, oversee and grow the company’s national sales staff and ultimately increase new business revenue, the company said.

David Weston, an eight-year veteran at BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY, where he served as marketing manager, has been named marketing director. Weston brings 17 years of digital marketing, campaign management, branding, advertising and strategic planning experience to the role.  In this role he will ramp up the company’s efforts to create awareness, develop new business channels, oversee annual marketing budgets, direct the company’s trade show efforts and lead the company’s advertising strategy, the company said. Prior to joining BOLT ON, Weston served as part of the Comcast marketing team.

“The auto aftermarket is evolving. While every shop wants to better engage their customers, many legacy shops are resistant to change, or taking on new technology, even if it can benefit them,” said Tim Cifelli, BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY’s chief revenue officer. “That means service providers need to do more education and consultation while speaking to them from a trust-building standpoint to address their pain points. Our ongoing changes are intended to give our customers and prospects a great experience regardless of how tech-savvy they may or may not be.”

The changes are part of BOLT ON’s company reorganization strategy announced earlier this year, designed to better define roles and responsibilities of the management team while empowering key people to execute corporate strategy, the company said. The goal is to provide outstanding customer service, enhance value to customers and strengthen the company’s positioning in the auto aftermarket.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.