Toronto, Ontario — Maria Soklis, Cox Automotive Canada and Brazil President, was named in CEO Today Magazine’s Business Women of the Year Awards.
Since being named president of Cox Automotive Canada in 2015, Soklis has led the organization to become one of Cox Automotive’s leading international markets and has significantly grown the business through the development and execution of its national business strategy and operations.
While the business began with only the Manheim operation, Soklis has been guiding the integration of 12 more brands, including NextGear Capital, Dealertrack, Dealer.com, Kelley Blue Book, Ready Logistics and others to help support a connected automotive ecosystem building transparency, efficiency and digitization for customers looking to thrive during times of significant transformation in the industry.
Soklis has also recently overseen the introduction of the Dealertrack organization in Brazil and is now leading the team responsible for building the Cox Automotive brand in this market.
With a background in Social Development and Social Work, her passion for community service drove her to also lead the organization’s CSR program, Cox Cares, that includes initiatives like bringing like-minded partners and clients together for the first-ever Canadian Automotive Industry Build-in support of Habitat for Humanity, and Cox Automotive Canada’s quarterly conference to encourage gender parity called Women With Drive.
In 2020, Soklis was also a driving force in the organization’s efforts to strengthen its inclusivity efforts and combat systemic racism through her support of the Black Employee Network and by being the Automotive Industry’s first leader to sign the BlackNorth Initiative’s CEO pledge. Soklis also contributes regularly to the industry and government’s efforts to build diversity in the Automotive world.
She was also recently named an “Executive of the Year” by the Canadian Lenders Association and a “2020 All-Star” by Automotive News.
The Business Women of the Year Awards are dedicated to recognizing achievement and leadership of women in business. For more information on the awards, click here.
