Edmonton-based AutoCanada Inc. (TSX: ACQ) has finalized the structured expansion of its provincial retail governance team, appointing Terry Haitas and Greg Smith as regional vice-presidents overseeing multi-rooftop dealership operations across Ontario.
The structural addition arrives just six weeks after the multi-location automotive group executed two high-profile acquisitions within its collision repair segment—Contemporary Coachworks in Calgary and Mascarin Collision Centre in Thunder Bay. These strategic moves expanded AutoCanada’s portfolio to 36 collision centers alongside 64 franchised dealerships nationwide.
For collision network directors, multi-shop operators (MSOs), and corporate automotive strategy leads, these targeted appointments mark a clear push to integrate dealership sales with high-volume, structural collision repair systems.
Executive Background and Regional Mandate
The internal re-engineering divides Ontario’s extensive dealer networks into distinct operational zones, designed to drive process discipline and maximize unit turn rates:
┌──> Ontario East Region (Terry Haitas, RVP)
│ Focus: Scale dealership touchpoints & regional volume.
[Ontario Operations Grid] ┤
└──> Southwestern Ontario (Greg Smith, RVP)
Focus: Multi-rooftop optimization & asset leverage.
- Ontario East Region: Terry Haitas assumes the Regional Vice-President chair after a successful tenure as the general manager of Subaru of Hamilton. Corporate leadership points to his extensive local retail operational history and verified internal track record as key drivers to help streamline vehicle turn times across the eastern rooftops.
- Southwestern Ontario Region: Greg Smith joins the executive management roster following more than five years as the Vice-President of Operations for Leavens Automotive Group, where he managed seven dealerships and an active workforce of over 300 employees. Smith’s background includes a series of strategic sales and market planning positions within BMW Group Canada—including Central Canada Regional Sales Manager and General Sales Manager for BMW and MINI London—paired with academic experience teaching in the Business Foundations Program at Western University’s Ivey Business School.
“Excited to share that I’ve joined AutoCanada as regional vice-presidents, Southwestern Ontario,” Smith published regarding his operational transition. “[I will be] leading operations across multiple rooftops in Southwestern Ontario — overseeing GMs and store teams across some of Canada’s most recognized automotive brands.”
MSO Consolidation: Mapping the Advanced Repair Footprint
The appointment of two highly experienced retail directors follows AutoCanada’s targeted strategy of buying top-tier, certified collision repair facilities to expand its national ACX (formerly AutoCanada Collision Centres) network.
The group’s recent high-profile acquisitions highlight an ongoing effort to capture and control specialized vehicle claims volume:
| Acquired Collision Enterprise | Core Footprint & Dimensions | Premium OEM Certifications & Structural Status |
| Contemporary Coachworks (Calgary, AB) | Two facilities spanning 30,000 sq. ft. of advanced repair footprint. | I-CAR Gold Class; holds 15 luxury/high-end certifications including Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. |
| Mascarin Collision Centre (Thunder Bay, ON) | State-of-the-art facility serving as a critical Northern logistics hub. | Only GM-certified shop in Northwestern Ontario; certified for Ford, Honda/Acura ProFirst, Nissan, and Genesis. |
Strategic Takeaways for Advanced Facility Management
For collision network operators, independent estimators, and multi-shop operations (MSOs), AutoCanada’s dual focus on dealership management and collision center acquisitions highlights key industry shifts:
- Maximizing Internal Captive Claims Volume: By placing experienced luxury retail leaders like Smith and Haitas at the top of its Ontario dealership grid, AutoCanada is perfectly positioned to capture first-notice-of-loss (FNOL) data right at the retail source. When a dealership vehicle is damaged, the front-office workflow is built to route that asset directly into an AutoCanada-owned collision facility. Independent body shops must strengthen their local customer service pipelines to counter this direct dealer-to-shop funnel.
- The Power of OEM Certification Networks: The acquisitions of Contemporary Coachworks and Mascarin Collision underscore a major industry reality: high-tier OEM certifications are essential to securing severe, high-complexity claims. As vehicles become more technically advanced, large public automotive networks are actively buying independent shops that already hold exclusive luxury and structural certifications. Independent operators must weigh the long-term ROI of investing in specialized high-voltage and ADAS equipment to protect their market share.
- Streamlining Cross-Segment Workflows: Having shared executive leadership over both retail dealerships and collision centers helps eliminate the traditional back-and-forth bottlenecks that slow down complex repairs. When an ACX facility needs an electronic module flashed or an ADAS component programmed, it gets priority access through the network’s sister dealerships. Independent shops must build strong, automated communication lines with local dealers to keep their own sublet cycle times and length of rental (LOR) metrics competitive.
