New York-based Robert Kiernan has established himself as a successful sales and management professional, as evidenced by his position as General Manager of Atlantic Honda and Hyundai of 110. Kiernan, originally from North Babylon, New York, has worked in the field for more than 16 years and has always abided by his motto: “You get out what you put in.”
Kiernan entered the automotive industry at 19 when he began as a porter, driving cars around after a friend offered him the job. He later advanced to the position of inventory manager at Atlantic Honda, then worked his way up to sales manager, then general sales manager, and eventually became the dealership’s general manager. Join CBT News anchor Jim Fitzpatrick in an exclusive interview with Kiernan, a recipient of the inaugural CBT News 40 Under 40 awards, to learn more about his journey in the industry.
Key Takeaway:
1. Working across two stores, Kiernan has noticed an increase in inventory on his lots for the first time in three years. He also notes that working at a John Staluppi dealership has provided him with renowned leadership in the industry.
2. Kiernan considers his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic to be his proudest achievement. Despite the world shutting down, he managed to steer his dealership back on track and achieve great success. As a result, his dealership has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Honda Masters Circle and Honda President’s Award. Additionally, he has achieved record-breaking sales volumes for Honda on three separate occasions in the past seven years.
3. Kiernan supports the recent partnership between Hyundai and Amazon, but only if it results in progress for the industry. He also believes that in the next five years, the industry will focus on streamlining the new skills that they had to acquire due to COVID-19.
