Group 1 Automotive Appoints Melkeya McDuffie as Chief Human Resources Officer

Group 1 Automotive has appointed Melkeya McDuffie as its new Chief Human Resources Officer, effective August 11. McDuffie previously served as Chief People Officer for Bright Horizons since 2023.

HOUSTON, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 250 automotive retailer with 259 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K., has appointed Melkeya McDuffie as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective Monday, August 11th. McDuffie brings over two decades of executive human resources leadership experience across multiple industries and companies.

McDuffie's appointment follows her tenure as Chief People Officer at Bright Horizons, a global leader in early education, family, and workforce solutions. Prior to this role, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Clean Harbors, the largest environmental and hazardous waste disposal company in North America. She also held senior HR positions at The Wallace Foundation, Waste Management, Wells Fargo Mortgage, HSBC Finance Corporation, and Quest Diagnostics.

Group 1 President and CEO Daryl Kenningham expressed his excitement about McDuffie's appointment, stating, "Melkeya shares our vision that developing a strong, people-first culture is the key to building an agile organization that delivers on its business objectives across geographies. Her experience building high-performing cultures, combined with her leadership and creativity, will support our focus on operational excellence and help attract colleagues who rethink business as usual. We are excited to welcome her to the team."

McDuffie holds a B.A. in Business and an M.B.A. from York St. John University in York, England. She has completed advanced executive programs in global business at Harvard Business School, strategic business leadership at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and employee relations at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Throughout her career, McDuffie has earned numerous accolades, including "Most Powerful and Influential Women" and "Most Powerful Businesswomen in Texas" by the National Diversity Council, "Most Influential Black Women to Follow" by CIO Views, and the "HR Superstars" recognition by HRO Today Magazine.

References:
[1] https://www.group1corp.com/2025-08-11-Group-1-Automotive-Appoints-Melkeya-McDuffie-as-Senior-Vice-President-and-Chief-Human-Resources-Officer
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/group-1-automotive-appoints-melkeya-mcduffie-as-senior-vice-president-and-chief-human-resources-offi-ce7c5ed3d888f723
[3] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/group-1-automotive-appoints-melkeya-mcduffie-as-senior-vice-president-and-chief-human-resources-officer-302526714.html