The Detroit Auto Show is looking for a new leader as the annual car and truck extravaganza tries to transition in a new era of diminished importance for traditional industry exhibits.
Sam Klemet left his position as executive director Thursday, according to the Detroit Auto Dealers Association. The group puts on the annual event at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.
Klemet in a statement sent by DADA said he “made the decision to pursue other professional opportunities.”
“It has been a privilege to serve the DADA and work alongside its leadership and members,” he said.
Klemet previously served as president and CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. He was tapped to head the Detroit Auto Show in 2024 as longtime director Rod Alberts transitioned from leadership. Klemet led the show’s return to its traditional January timing.
Organizers have sought to redefine the Detroit Auto Show as automakers move away from flashy publicity stunts at the shows and instead pour money into one-off reveals and events, many online, that do not require sharing the spotlight.
“As we move forward, our focus remains on supporting our dealer members, strengthening the organization, and continuing to elevate the Detroit Auto Show as a premier automotive event,” the association’s president, Katie Coleman, said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Auto Show seeks new leader as executive director exits
Reporting by Summer Ballentine, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
