Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> September 5, 2011
Jeffrey H. Coats joined Autobytel Inc. as President and CEO in December 2008. He has served on Autobytel's board since August 1996. Mr. Coats has been a Partner of Southgate Alternative Investments, a diversified investment firm, since November 2007. He also has been an Executive Chairman of Mikronite Technologies Group Inc., an industrial technology company, since April 2007, previously having served as the company's Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director since February 2002. Before that, he was a Founder and Managing Director of TH Lee Global Internet Managers, L.P., a fund focused on making equity investments in e-commerce and Internet-related companies globally, where he remains a Limited Partner. Mr. Coats served as Managing Director of GE Equity, a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Capital, from April 1996 to July 1999. He was a Founder and Managing Director of GE Capital's corporate finance restructuring group from 1990 to 1993 and Region Manager and Managing Director of GE Capital's Western U.S. corporate finance group from 1989 to 1993. Mr. Coats serves on the board of directors of Congoleum Corporation, a sheet and tile flooring company, and is a Member of its audit committee and restructuring oversight committee. He holds a BBA in finance from the University of Georgia and an MBA in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Profile
TWST: Let's start with a brief introduction to Autobytel, including a historical sketch and an overview of your core activities.
Mr. Coats: Autobytel (ABTL) is the pioneer for online automotive leads.
