Auto Dealers
WG Automotive Group 855.224.3385 | wgautogroup.com
W
hen Bill “Billy” Walters was beginning his business career growing up in Kentucky back in 1965, he always had a love for the car business. As a young man, his interest grew while working in retail sales and he also became one of the largest wholesalers in the state of Kentucky. Fast forward 39 years, Walters and Company is on its way to becoming one of the largest private automotive groups in the country.
and my dad was a Chevrolet/Buick dealer in south Louisiana, so I basically grew up in the car business. I have definitely not been given anything. I’ve worked many 70 to 80 hour weeks and have sacrificed a lot to get where I am.” “Partnering up with Bill has been the best thing career-wise that ever happened to me. Bill is one of the greatest guys I’ve ever known. He’s like a father figure in many ways.” Walters oversees the acquisitions and Gaiennie oversees the day to day operations.
In 2011, Mr. Walters and Jared Gaiennie met at Walters’ Toyota store in Atlanta and in 2012 a partnership was formed, branded WG Automotive Group (Walters-Gaiennie, LLC). Jared purchased a minority interest in Walters’s existing Ford dealership (now Glenn Ford), and the rest is history. In December of that same year, they purchased Freedom Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Fiat of Lexington. Today, WG AUTOMOTIVE group consists of 14 rooftops and 19 franchises in Georgia and Kentucky with a new Hyundai point in Athens, GA opening this November.
Under the leadership of Gaiennie, each store operates with an individual General Manager and have the autonomy to run their dealership. The Glenn Auto Mall was acquired in April of this year making it their largest purchase to date. “We purchased Glenn and the Glenn name because of a near perfect 70 year reputation and because of what the Glenn name meant to the community.” Lexington is a great market with a very steady economy and by having both Nissan and Hyundai dealerships along with Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Buick, GMC, Infiniti and Mitsubishi we roughly own 40% of the market. “The key to our growth and success is because of one thing and one thing only, people. It’s the attitude, work ethic, and passion of our people that sets us apart. We are all a family,” concluded Gaiennie.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Gaiennie, a car guy since he was a kid. “My grandfather was an Oldsmobile dealer in Memphis, Tennessee
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