CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts recently announced that Richard H. (Dick) Cross, III, chairman and CEO, will be transitioning from his current role to a position on the Board of Directors this spring. In his place, CARSTAR has named David F. Byers CEO.

Cross, who joined CARSTAR in 2004, is credited with transforming the collision repair company into a consistent and powerful national franchise system that has captured the confidence of insurers, suppliers, independent owner-operators and consumers. 

In 2008, Cross successfully orchestrated the sale of CARSTAR to Champlain Capital Partners and continued his leadership role with the new partnership. He helped create a financially stable platform for CARSTAR, strengthened the company's management team at all levels and developed what the company termed a "first-class" business process for the corporation and its franchisees.

"Dick has done a remarkable job of navigating CARSTAR through a complicated and changing environment," said Warren D. Feldberg, chairman of Champlain Capital Management. "We are now well-positioned to continue growing as an outstanding franchising organization offering enormous value to our current and future franchisees by enabling and documenting industry-leading KPIs through every store in our system. My partners at Champlain and I want to thank Dick for his many contributions, and look forward to serving with him on the Board going forward."

New CEO Byers served in franchise company leadership over the last 15 years, most recently as chief commercial officer of Sirva. Prior to that, he served as CEO of The Mutual Fund Store and COO of H&R Block. Byers joined the company on April 5, 2011 and embarked on a 60-day transition period with Cross and the leadership team, along with members of the CARSTAR Nation family. Byers will report to Feldberg. 

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