Certified Collision Group (CCG) announced the appointment of Ernie Laky to the position of vice president of procurement.

Laky provides more than 30 years of experience in creating, negotiating and growing strategic partnership relationships within the automotive repair industry, and will focus on the development of key vendor programs to the direct benefit of CCG affiliates and strategic partners alike. Laky was vice president of purchasing for North America’s largest collision shop network for nearly two decades. In that role, he negotiated and managed all U.S. vendor relationships. Prior to that, Laky was with Standard Motor Products Inc. for nearly 14 years where he held the positions of buyer, product manager and business unit manager.

“Ernie’s extensive experience in vendor relationship management will significantly enhance the value proposition that CCG Affiliates realize longterm,” said Bruce Bares, CEO/president of Certified Collision Group. “Industry providers know and respect Ernie and his addition to our team will further our affiliates’ ability to compete within their markets through both proven performance and economies of scale.”

Laky added, “I look forward to providing my applied experience and knowledge to CCG and assisting our coveted affiliates in reducing today’s heavy costs associated with training, equipment, certification and other operational expenses, so that they can remain competitive to the benefit of our insurance partners and consumers alike. I firmly believe that CCG is on the right path in very selectively on-boarding high performing, DRP-centric, OEM Certified repairers that consistently achieve the insurance communities’ KPI objectives.”