ATLANTA – Manheim announced that Ralph M. Liniado, senior vice president of development, will retire at the end of this year after serving the company and Cox Enterprises, Inc., Manheim’s parent company, with distinction for 39 years.

A well-respected leader in the vehicle remarketing industry, Liniado is responsible for Manheim’s new business ventures, strategic investments, and the Manheim DRIVE Center, the company’s innovation and research center in Stockbridge, Ga.

“Ralph’s contribution to Manheim and Cox over the last 39 years has been unparalleled,” said Dean Eisner, president and chief executive officer. “In his 19 years with Manheim, he has driven many groundbreaking initiatives and innovations, including the early development of Manheim Online. Also, his extensive knowledge of our business has been an extremely valuable asset as we have transformed Manheim into a global company.”

Liniado joined Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises, Inc., Manheim’s parent company, in 1970 as the chief financial officer of Cox subsidiary TSC Express Company, a multi-state regional trucking operation. While at TSC, Liniado also served as chief operating officer and president until its sale in 1989.

He returned to Cox Enterprises’ corporate headquarters in 1989 and joined Manheim as senior vice president of administration with responsibility for general and administrative business functions. In 1995, Liniado was named to his current position.

That same year, Liniado headed Manheim’s AuctionVision Satellite car auctions for Chrysler Corp. as a joint venture with UK-based Independent Car Auctions. In 1996, he led Manheim’s drive onto the Internet with the launch of Manheim Online. Besides playing an instrumental role in the development of the infrastructure in Manheim’s world-class paint, body and detail operations, Liniado led Manheim’s acquisition of Dent Wizard International, specializing in paintless dent removal services. During his tenure, he also fostered numerous acquisitions and joint ventures, including the formation of Manheim Europe with 23 auctions in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Manheim Asia Pacific with 10 auctions in Australia and New Zealand.