PEARL, MS - American Auto Auction Group announces that John Rea will continue on as the General Manager of Rea Brothers’ Mid-South Auto Auction in Pearl, Miss., while industry veteran Butch Royall will continue on as the auction’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

John Rea is the grandson of the founder of the Rea family’s auto auction business. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Rea worked in the industry his entire life.

Starting his career as a sale-day “Jack of all Trades” in his youth, Rea worked for the family’s business until 1994 when he joined ADESA as fleet/lease manager of the company’s Charlotte auction. By 1997, Rea had become the General Manager of ADESA Austin, a position he held until 2000 when it was time to return home to his family’s business.

Rea’s auction career has been filled with industry-wide accolades, and in 2008, after many years of service to the NAAA, Rea was named President of the National Auto Auction Association.

“There is no place like home and partnering with American Auto Auction Group while continuing to live and work in my beloved state of Mississippi is truly a dream come true for me and for my family, “ stated Rea.

Butch Royall is one of the most well-known and widely-respected executives in the remarketing industry. From his early days with Chrysler, GM, and GE, Butch went on to lend his award-winning talents to ADT and BSC America prior to joining Rea Brothers as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and National Remarketing Manager. Royall is a graduate of Bluefield University and is a respected automotive historian.

“I’ve been a car guy all my life and I truly love this business,” said Royall. “The Rea family has become my family and I’m thrilled that we have teamed up with the American Auto Auction Group.”

American Auto Auction Group is headquartered in Charleston, S.C. and can be contacted at (843) 579-AUTO.