Gulf States Toyota (GST), one of America’s most successful private companies and one of the world's largest distributors of Toyota vehicles and parts with a network of 156 Toyota dealerships across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, announced today that it has expanded its leadership team.

Industry veteran Mike Brennan has joined the organization and will officially assume his role on August 5, 2024. Brennan becomes GST’s Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, where he will oversee field operations, marketing, dealer relations, fixed operations and supply and demand. Brennan is an accomplished leader who will help drive innovation and transformation throughout the organization.

“This is a pivotal time for GST as we build upon the success the company has experienced since its inception more than 50 years ago and look to advance a strategic vision for the future,” said GST Chairman, Dan Friedkin. “Mike’s expertise, commitment to innovation and collaborative spirit will enable us to achieve continued growth as we leverage new technologies like AI to strengthen our operations and evolve our culture to support this transformation.”

With 28 years of experience across multiple areas of the automotive sector, his extensive career includes holding senior roles at the dealership/retail, OEM and Private Distributorship levels. Most recently, Mike was the Chief Operating Officer of Anderson Automotive Group in Raleigh, NC, which was ranked #44 on the Top 150 Dealership Groups for 2023 by Automotive News.

Prior to joining the Anderson Automotive Group, Brennan was the Vice President of Sales for Southeast Toyota Distributors (SET). While at SET, Mike held several positions including Vice President of Marketing, Area General Manager, District Sales Manager, Director of Accessories and Truck Operations Director.

“I’m excited to join the GST team and work alongside our talented associates as we collectively strive to provide superior value to our dealers, TMNA, partners and Toyota customers,” said Brennan. “I’d like to thank Dan Friedkin for giving me this incredible opportunity and look forward to championing innovation that will enable us to expand our organizational capabilities and achieve continued growth and success on our journey forward.”

About Gulf States Toyota

Gulf States Toyota (GST) is one of America's most successful private companies and one of the world's largest distributors of Toyota vehicles and parts. Founded in 1969 in Houston, Texas, GST teams with Toyota Motor Sales USA and over 156 Toyota dealerships in our five-state region—Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana—to meet the rising demand for Toyota vehicles and parts. Gulf States Toyota is part of The Friedkin Group.

About The Friedkin Group

The Friedkin Group is a privately held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. These organizations include Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Westside and Northside Lexus, Accelerated Solutions Group, The Friedkin Group International, Copilot Capital, Auberge Resorts Collection, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, AS Roma, AS Cannes, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin. For more information, visit www.friedkin.com.

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