ATLANTA – To support its efforts to identify the best talent to achieve its long-term business and customer goals, Manheim has selected two new leaders in the Northeast and Southwest. Bill Harbourne was named general sales manager for the Northeast Market, and Nicole Graham-Ponce has been named general manager at Manheim Dallas-Fort Worth. Harbourne will lead Manheim’s Northeast field sales team and continue to build upon relationships with dealers.  Graham-Ponce will be responsible for all business, employee and customer operations.   

Graham-Ponce began her career in the car business running an independent dealership with her father. In 1998, she joined Omaha Auto Auction, which became Manheim Omaha, as a dealer sales representative and was quickly promoted to positions of greater authority, including general sales manager, assistant general manager and, most recently, market general sales manager.

“Nicole has been instrumental in developing relationships with both dealer and commercial customers,” said Barry Roop, market vice president. “In her previous role, she created and led a team focused on building customer relationships while generating revenue in all sales capacities for Manheim. Her customer and sales knowledge will be a huge asset to Manheim Dallas-Fort Worth.”

Harbourne joined Cox in 2004 with AutoTrader.com and has held a number of roles with increasing responsibility since joining Manheim in 2007. “Bill is helping to lead change in an evolving marketplace, while growing sales through teamwork, strategy and business development,” said Scott Michaels, Manheim’s regional vice president of field sales, East.

Most recently, Harbourne served as an account manager for the Major Dealer Team working with some of Manheim’s largest dealers across the country. With more than 14 years of remarketing experience, he has a solid and successful background in wholesale, retail and management. Prior to joining Cox, he spent three years as a general manager of a multi-line import dealership in metro New York City.