Dean Fisher Celebrates Retirement After 50 Years in the Industry

By: Driven Brands | 0 Shares 226 Reads

September 07, 2022 // Franchising.com // Charlotte, NC - Longtime industry veteran, former CARSTAR franchisee, and most recently, Driven Brands collision president, Dean Fisher, announces retirement for the end of the year.

Dean Fisher has always had an interest in cars and owned multiple automotive-related companies for over 35 years. In 1990, Dean took a leap and brought his independent repair center into the CARSTAR family as a franchisee. Through his time with CARSTAR, Dean had a commitment to operational excellence and customer service, propelling him to earn the CARSTAR Franchisee of the Year Award in 2012. After passing the business along to his son, Dean joined the CARSTAR corporate team, quickly rising through the organization and becoming an inspirational leader to many at Driven Brands.

“While I've spent 50 years in the collision repair industry and had countless pivotal moments through my career, I still remember the day I started my journey with the Driven Brands family as VP of Operations for CARSTAR U.S.,” says Dean Fisher, collision president, Driven Brands. “I walked through those doors and quickly realized that the most powerful thing I could do was to look, listen, and learn from the people around me. This became my mantra as I continued my career.”

“Dean’s commitment to service is undeniable, serving on the I-CAR board of directors and innovating new capabilities to simplify operations for franchisees,” said Michael Macaluso, EVP and group president of Paint, Collision, and Glass, Driven Brands. “Dean’s integrity and commitment to the franchisees has been a significant asset in scaling this business to almost 1,000 locations. We are so grateful for his contributions to the business, and he will always be part of the Driven Brands family.”

Chris Dawson has been promoted to president of paint and collision for Driven Brands. Building from his roots as a franchise owner, Chris has been a proven leader in the Driven Brands family known for his ability to get things done. In 2017, Chris orchestrated the launch of the Take 5 Oil Change franchise program, following that, he ran HR and training for Driven Brands, and in 2021, he led Maaco to its most successful year in the brand’s history.

“While it’s been an incredibly rewarding journey, now is the right time for me to enter retirement,” continued Fisher. “The business has never been stronger, powered by our healthy franchise system and industry-leading partnerships. I know I will be leaving the business in Chris Dawson’s very capable hands.”

Dean Fisher will continue to lead the collision team through the end of the year and will remain on the Driven Brands team in a consulting capacity until the summer of 2023.

“For my retirement, I'm excited to spend some more time with my beautiful wife and our growing grandchildren,” concluded Fisher. “While I am also looking forward to supporting local nonprofit boards, my community, church, and charities I will still be excited to see this business maintain such a positive trajectory. I hope we continue to be strategic and innovative with our approach and truly capture the potential ahead of us relative to automobile advancements.”

SOURCE Driven Brands

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