Soon after the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance hosts its 75th celebration in August, it will undergo a significant transition, event organizers stated in a press release. On October 1, after 40 years at the helm, Concours chairman Sandra Button will step back from day-to-day operational leadership and into a new role as brand ambassador & strategic advisor.
As part of that transition, and after an extensive search for Button’s successor, Vince W. Finaldi has joined the team as Concours president.
“It has been a great honor to lead this event in recent decades,” said Button, “but it is time for the next generation of car lovers to come to the fore. Vince is a car guy through and through, and I know he has both a passion and a heart for this event. He also has a willingness to ask important questions and listen, to think deeply and work collegially, so I have every confidence that he will continue to build successfully on the great legacy of this event. I look forward to working with him in the coming months and years, doing all that I can to support him and the Concours.”
Finaldi’s Family History in the Automotive Industry
Finaldi, a respected trial attorney, legal strategist and former U.S. Marine, grew up in the car world. His grandfather moved from Italy to the U.S. and worked for General Motors in the 1920s, then returned home to open his own auto shop, where his sons—Vince’s father among them—were employed. They subsequently opened their own auto shops in the U.S.
From a very young age, Vince was steeped in all aspects of the car hobby, from purchase and sale to preservation and repair. Over time, he became an ardent collector of significant historical automobiles, auto books and automobilia. In recent years, as he began to transition away from his full-time law practice to devote more time to cars, Finaldi opened his own auto shop, Finaldi Inc., in the Monterey Bay area. That pursuit will now be put on hold as he takes on the responsibility of overseeing one of the world’s leading collector car competitions.
Button’s Legacy & Finaldi’s Future
Replacing Button, who is often cited as one of the most influential people in the collector car world, will not be easy, noted the release. Under her tenure, Pebble Beach Concours officials say that it has consistently ranked as the top event of its kind in the world. She strengthened the leadership team, instituting both a selection committee and an advisory board. She increased the range of cars shown on the Concours show field, added events and expanded its reach globally.
“I look forward to working diligently with both the Pebble Beach Concours and Pebble Beach Company teams, including Sandra and Martin Button, to build on the legacy of the Concours, ensuring it remains the pinnacle concours, while also continuing to increase its charitable giving,” said Finaldi.
Finaldi continued, “I don’t foresee major changes. That said, the Concours is not a static event. It evolves constantly because cars are always changing, tastes change and new events spring up, and Sandra has done a masterful job at anticipating and supporting important changes to keep the Concours at the forefront of motoring events while honoring its storied past. That philosophy will continue, and I look forward to working with the Concours selection committee, our advisory board, entrants, judges, volunteers, sponsors and our team to continue to seek opportunities to enhance this iconic event.”