BETHESDA, Md. — The Auto Care Association (ACA) had hired longtime automotive aftermarket executive Ted Hughes to be senior director of community engagement and executive director of its Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) community.
Hughes will lead the association's efforts to evolve community engagement among its members while also serving as the liaison between the association and the AWDA.
In his role as senior director of community engagement, Hughes will be establishing engagement strategies; communicating membership benefits to existing and prospective members while also strengthening the communities' membership base; and implementing community practices and policies to provide association members with maximum value, the ACA said.
As AWDA executive director, Hughes will provide guidance and primary administrative support for all AWDA-related organizational activities, including assistance in the engagement, growth and retention of this 600-plus member community.
"Ted's experience in the aftermarket as well as his communication and customer relation skills made him a natural fit for this position," ACA President and CEO Bill Hanvey said.
"Our communities — especially AWDA, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary — are the backbone of the association and we are looking forward to further enhancing our community engagement for the betterment of the industry and the association."
Hughes brings more than 20 years of aftermarket experience to the association, most recently as the head of marketing for Mahle Aftermarket Inc., where he was responsible for promotions, public relations, advertising, motorsports programs and the advancement of all electronic and web-based activities.
Since 2020, Hughes has been the vice chair of the ACA's Marketing Communications Committee and the chair of the Marketing Executives Committee for the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.
