Darin Wade

About Darin Wade

Darin Wade is an accomplished automotive retail executive with more than 30 years of frontline dealership leadership experience across high-volume, multi-franchise operations. He currently serves as President of Rich Ford Sales in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he provides strategic and operational leadership aligned with Ford Motor Company standards. Darin is widely recognized for driving operational excellence, restoring profitability, and developing high-performance leadership teams. Darin has returned to Rich Ford Sales to lead all dealership operations, with a focus on retail performance, fixed operations growth, customer experience, and long-term strategic planning.Foreman Auto Group – Las Vegas, NVGeneral Manager | United NissanLed one of the largest Nissan dealerships in the United States, overseeing high-volume sales, fixed operations, inventory management, and large-scale staffing in a highly competitive market.Krause Family Ford / Angela Krause Ford & Lincoln – Woodstock, GADealer Partner & General ManagerProvided executive leadership across multiple franchised dealerships employing more than 200 associates, generating annual sales of over 4,800 vehicles, and managing combined payrolls exceeding $10 million.Power FordDealer Partner & General ManagerSuccessfully transformed a non-profitable dealership into a profitable operation. Oversaw approximately 154 employees, annual vehicle sales exceeding 3,300 units, and payroll of more than $7 million. Maintained hands-on leadership across all departments, including New and Used Sales, CRC/BDC, Fleet, Finance, Service, Quick Lane, Collision, and Parts.EducationBachelor of Business Administration, University of New MexicoBachelor of Automotive Business Management, Northwood UniversityLeadership ExpertiseNew & Used Vehicle OperationsFixed Operations (Service, Parts, Quick Lane, Collision)Finance & InsuranceCRC / BDC & Digital RetailFleet & Commercial SalesTurnaround Leadership & Profitability ImprovementOEM Compliance & Brand AlignmentExecutive SummaryDarin Wade brings a proven record of dealership growth, disciplined execution, and operational leadership. His hands-on management style, combined with strategic oversight, positions him as a trusted executive leader within the Ford dealer network.

Experience

1. President General Manager

   Rich Ford

   Jan 2022 — Present · Albuquerque, NM, US

Education

• The University of New Mexico

  Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General/Finance

  1992 — 1995

• UNM Anderson School of Management

  BBA, Human Resources/Organizational Behavior

  1992 — 1995

• NCM Associates Inc/Jeff Sacks & Associates Inc.

  General Managers Boot Camp II

  1996 — 1996

• NCM Dealer 20 Group

  Automotive

  2007 — 2012

• Northwood University

  Bachelor's degree, Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician

  2002 — 2005

• Northwood University

  Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA, Automotive Management

  2003 — 2005

Skills

• Fleet Management
• Automotive Sales Training
• Crm
• Reynolds
• Strategic Planning
• Marketing Strategy
• Automotive
• Pricing
• Dealer Management
• Account Management
• Gross Profit
• Business Planning
• Operations Management
• Team Leadership
• Leadership
• Competitive Analysis
• Selling
• Recruiting
• Market Planning
• Profit
• Dealers
• Automotive Repair
• Sales Management
• Marketing
• Management
• Team Building
• Process Improvement
• E-Commerce
• Negotiation
• Vehicles
• Sales
• Parts
• Inventory Management
• Coaching
• Sales Operations
• Customer Retention
• Customer Service
• Inventory Analysis
• Customer Satisfaction
• New Business Development