J.D. Power Seeks New CEO as O’Neill Announces Retirement

Market research firm J.D. Power has launched a search for a CEO to replace Finbarr O’Neill, who plans to retire in March.

O’Neill, 65, will remain with the company until a new CEO is named, then serve as a senior adviser. Bloomberg News says his replacement may be tasked with leading an initial public stock offering as soon as next year.

O’Neill joined Power a decade ago from Reynolds and Reynolds, the global provider of auto dealership management software and services, where he was CEO. A lawyer, he is a past senior counsel for Toyota’s U.S. sales unit. He also was former CEO of the American operations of Hyundai and Mitsubishi Motors.

At Power, he shepherded the company’s transition in ownership from McGraw-Hill Financial (later S&P Global) to London-based private equity firm XIO. He also expanded Power, best-known for its vehicle quality ratings, into data and analytics, generating record profits.

Last August, O’Neill led the company into the business-to-consumer market by acquiring Costa Mesa, Calif.-based National Appraisal Guides Inc. The company publishes NADA Guides, which offer consumers pricing data and specs about new and used vehicles, classic cars, boats, recreational vehicles and manufactured homes.