Celebrating Angela Rizzo’s Retirement as CMO from VINCUE

It’s with bitter sweet sentiment that we announce today the retirement of our incredible Chief Marketing Officer, Angela Rizzo. Angela stepped into the role in early 2022, a time of great transition and growth for VINCUE. Since then, she has become an outspoken and invaluable advocate for our company and our industry, helping shape our brand, drive growth, and inspire innovation.

Angela’s contributions to VINCUE have been nothing short of extraordinary. Her strategic vision, passion, and commitment to our dealers elevated our sales marketing efforts, strengthened our identity in the industry, and built important relationships with customers and partners. Here are just a few highlights:

Angela created and served as the host of Cue the Next Leader, a podcast that brought together voices from across automotive to talk about vision, purpose, and results. She interviewed VINCUE dealers, partners, employees, and industry thought leaders to have meaningful conversations and inspire innovation. In total, Angela produced 58 episodes with over 1,600 unique downloads!

Angela was the architect behind the expansion of our vision and investments in the industry through partnerships, trade shows, and conferences. She created important relationships with organizations like NAMAD, WOCAN, and Cherokee Media, and she executed ever bigger event presences at shows like Digital Dealer and NADA.

Angela was instrumental in creating the VINCUE: UNITE brand and partner strategy that formalized the shared commitment of VINCUE and its partners in creating best in class integrations and solutions for our dealers. The biggest example of UNITE was the coordinated branding effort at NADA where 10 VINCUE partners added UNITE branding and collateral to their booths.

Angela also managed the VINCUE re-brand in 2023, which elevated not just the visual identity of VINCUE but formalized and strengthened the messaging, value propositions, and brand voice with which we now speak. She hosted VINCUE: UNLEASHED 2024 as co-emcee with some of the best jokes we can’t repeat here. And she was a 2023 Women in Retail honorees at Used Car Week.

As CMO, Angela contributed to the largest period of growth in our company’s history. She has been instrumental in laying a strong foundation for the future, and we are incredibly grateful for everything she has done. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Angela for her service and wish her all the best in this exciting new chapter which is set to include lots of travel, cooking, and time with family.

As we wish Angela farewell, we are also excited to announce that Michael Hopkins, currently Chief Experience Officer, will be stepping into the role of Chief Marketing Officer and merging the dealer experience team with marketing.

As CXO. Michael worked closely with Angela over the last few years to make sure the value we promise is the value we deliver. Michael has been responsible for a number of innovations within the #TeamVINCUE community that strengthened relationships with dealers and partners through transparency, communication, and shared purpose.

The most visible example of his leadership was the launch of VINCUE: UNLEASHED, our annual user group conference designed exclusively for VINCUE dealers and partners. Every year, UNLEASHED has nearly doubled in size and has become one of the most important events for our users.

Like Angela, Michael possessed a deep understanding of our mission, values, and vision for the future. His expertise and leadership will ensure a seamless transition and continued momentum in branding, marketing, and partnership efforts. 

It has been an honor to work with and learn from Angela, and our success will always be linked to the vigor, humor, and generosity she inspired in all of us. Please join us in celebrating Angela’s incredible career and success, and welcoming Michael to his new role.

And if you’d like to follow along on all the adventures and happenings in Angela’s retirement era, Follow her Now on LinkedIn!