Autochek appoints CloudOne’s Robert Granados to its board of directors

 Autochek, the automotive technology company making car ownership more accessible and affordable across Africa, has appointed US automotive industry leader and veteran Robert Granados to its board of directors to support its ongoing growth and expansion.

Since launching in 2020, Autochek has driven the penetration of auto-financing across Africa, enabling more consumers and businesses across North, West, East and South Africa to access financing solutions to purchase their desired vehicles.

In less than two years of operations, the company has worked with more than 70 financial institutions and more than 2,000 dealerships to process more than 80,000 car loan applications. Leveraging the vast reach of its online marketplace, the company originates auto loans powered by data analytics, making it easier for financial institutions to offer credit to consumers. 

Robert Granados has over two decades of global experience in leading and growing technology companies that provide solutions for the automotive industry value chain. He is the CEO of CloudOne, a marketing company that helps auto dealers find and engage customers. He was Senior Vice President and General Manager at DealerTrack Technologies, where he led various units, including the finance and lender networks, inventory management and transportation, CRM, and independent dealer websites. 

After acquiring DealerTrack Technologies by Cox Automotive Inc., the global leader in providing automotive solutions, he served as Senior Vice President, Strategy at Cox Automotive, where he performed assessments of new growth opportunities, expansion of current business offerings, and effectiveness of current products and services.

Read also: Here is how Autochek’s Johan van der Merwe intends to finance your next car purchase

He served as an Operating Partner at SNH Capital Partners, where he was CEO of the Automotive Portfolio, which comprised National Credit Center, the leading provider of comprehensive data, software and marketing solutions to US dealerships and ProMax, the leading software provider to retail automotive dealers, offering award-winning CRM, desking, website, credit, and lead generation solutions.

He was also CEO of MAX Digital, a leading automotive inventory management and merchandising platform, supporting the company through a successful exit in 2021. 

Robert Granados’s proposed impact at Autochek

Robert Granados will bring his vast experience to Autochek, supporting the integration of the Pan-African automotive industry to drive shared value for consumers, manufacturers, financial institutions and other stakeholders.

Autochek provides best-in-class technology and advisory solutions to car dealers, financial institutions and other stakeholders in Africa’s automotive ecosystem, supporting them to improve credit decisions, collections, pricing, portfolio management and product development and deliver an enhanced customer experience.

In the statement seen by Technext, Etop Ikpe, CEO of The Autochek Group, said, “We are excited to have someone of Robert’s calibre on our board with his vast experience from the most advanced automotive markets in the world. He has played a major role in building many successful automotive technology companies and we are looking forward to leveraging his experience to support our continued growth as a company. 

Read also: Autochek Africa launches brand new car loans marketplace to further deepen mobility

Robert Granados said, “There is a great opportunity to transform lives and livelihoods across Africa by making car ownership more accessible and affordable, and I am thrilled to be supporting Etop and the team to make this happen. Autochek has achieved so much success in a short period of time and I believe there is so much more to come.” 

About Autochek 

Autochek is an automotive technology development company building the infrastructure to make car ownership more accessible and affordable in Africa. With active operations in 9 countries across East, West, South and North Africa, a partner-led retail footprint in over 2,000 dealers and workshop locations, and more than 70 banking partners,

Autochek is improving Africa’s automotive finance value proposition by bringing all relevant stakeholders together to enable easier access to more financing options as a catalyst for growth in Africa’s automotive industry.