Auto dealerships announce a change in leadership

By Don Dodson

Thursday April 12, 2007

CHAMPAIGN – David Parkhill will take over for Kevin Sullivan as president of and dealer principal of Sullivan-Parkhill Automotive and Sullivan-Parkhill Imports, the dealerships announced Wednesday.

Both dealerships and their holding company will continue to be owned by the Sullivan and Parkhill families.

Kevin Sullivan plans to devote more time to his J.D. Byrider franchises in Champaign and Bloomington, as well as other business ventures, according to a statement from the company.

"The change also will allow him the time to remain actively involved in community organizations," the statement said.

David Parkhill most recently served as vice president and as operating and general manager of Sullivan-Parkhill Imports, the Mercedes Benz and Volvo dealership at 401 W. Marketview Drive, C. Now he will oversee not only that, but also Sullivan-Parkhill Automotive, the Chevrolet and Cadillac dealership at 440 W. Anthony Drive, C.

The two dealerships employ about 85 people full-time, with 65 of them at the Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership and 20 at the imports business.

Parkhill has 15 years of management experience in the automotive business and is the fourth generation of the Parkhill family to own and operate an automobile dealership in Champaign.

Sullivan, who will remain an active shareholder in the company, had been president of Sullivan-Parkhill since it was formed in 1997 by the consolidation of Sullivan Chevrolet and Parkhill Motor Sales.

He expressed confidence that Parkhill is the right person to lead the company.

"David has the knowledge, expertise and passion to move the company forward in an ever-changing and challenging industry," Sullivan said. "He and his team at Sullivan-Parkhill Imports have earned the coveted 'Best of the Best' award from Mercedes Benz the past two years, exemplifying the superior job they've done in both sales and service."

John C. Parkhill will continue to serve as a vice president of the company.

Both the Parkhill and Sullivan families have been involved in the automobile business in Champaign since the early part of the 20th century. David Parkhill's great-grandfather, Theodore Dennis Parkhill, and his sons established Parkhill Motor Sales in 1923, and Kevin Sullivan's grandfather, Giles Sullivan, founded Sullivan Chevrolet in 1932.