Jim Hallett, CEO and Chairman for KAR Auction Services, accepted the Ed Bobit Industry Icon award at a March 6 ceremony at the Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) for his contribution to the industry.

"I am absolutely humbled and honored and very much appreciative to receive this recognition. I consider myself to be a very blessed man,” said Hallett.

The award was presented to Hallett by leaders of the National Auto Auction Association and (NAAA) and International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The award was created in honor of the late Ed Bobit, who was the posthumous inaugural winner in 2015.

Hallett leads the strategic planning for the entire organization at KAR Auction Services, including its executive team. He also oversees the development and implementation of the organization's objectives and identifies synergies across various business units.

He first joined the company in 1993 as president of ADESA Canada, and in 1996 he  relocated to Indianapolis to serve as president and CEO of ADESA. He assumed his current role at KAR in 2009 and was the architect behind the merger of ADESA and insurance auto auctions which resulted in the formation of KAR Auction Services.

“He worked hard to get to where he is today, and he got there by determination and unique ability to bounce back from whatever obstacles he encountered on the way,” said Tony Long, executive director for the IARA

KAR Auction Services has more than 300 locations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the U.K. And has customers from more than 110 countries around the world

Under his leadership, KAR Auction Services has sold more than 5 million vehicles through its online, physical and mobile auctions last year alone. In 2008, he was recognized as Remarketer of the Year at CAR.

A year ago, the Ed Bobit Industry Icon award was presented to Mike Hockett, founder of Auction Broadcasting Company and co-founder of ADESA.