Certified Collision Group (CCG) announced the appointment of Bruce R. Bares to the position of president and CEO. Bares was also elected to CCG’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
“Bruce’s extensive leadership experience in both insurance claims management and collision repair uniquely positions him to lead CCG and manage the 1stCERTIFIED initiative,” said CCG Managing Director Thomas Adams.”Bruce’s vision for improving the competitive position of top performing, independent collision businesses while adding value for their key trading partners, is significant for the advancement of CCG’s mission.”
Bares’ career in the collision repair industry began in 1975, as a combination body and paint technician in the family’s Midwest collision repair facility, advancing to estimator and center manager. In 1984, Bares entered the insurance industry as a field appraiser, relocating out West. Over the next 20 years of carrier service with Colonial Penn, GE Auto and Home, and AIG, Bares provided vision and leadership in the areas of inside and field claims operations, regional management, regional and national DRP oversight, and technology acquisitions. He eventually was appointed to the top material damage executive home office position with GE Auto and Home. After 20 years in insurance claims management, Bares returned to the collision repair segment as president and chief operating officer of a California regional 10-location MSO. In 2012, Bares founded Certified Collision Centers, an Arizona regional MSO. Bares most recently served in an executive special projects role with the Boyd Group.
“CCG’s commitment to improving the competitiveness of top performing collision repair businesses in a rapidly changing and consolidating industry is a vision and a mission I am excited to be a part of,” said Bares. “The 1stCERTIFIED solution focus on repair certifications, proven performance, and the retention of well-established local brands while creating a national presence, is a strategy that’s both needed and unique within our industry.”
