NADA President Steps Down

Phil Brady, president of the National Automobile Dealers Assn., is leaving the trade group to become senior vice president of government affairs for Phillips 66 Co. The Houston-based natural gas company was spun off from ConocoPhillips in May.

Joe Cowden, NADA's COO and CFO, will serve as interim president until Brady's successor is chosen, according to Automotive News, which cites an internal memo.

Brady's 12-year tenure as the group's chief included the bankruptcy of Chrysler and General Motors, which resulted in the closing of thousands of their dealerships. On his watch, NADA has lobbied Congress and the Obama administration to protect jobs by easing proposed fuel economy standards for 2017-2025.

Brady previously worked at the now-defunct American Automobile Manufacturers Assn. and held senior posts in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.