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Rock Anderson Jr./ Cox Automotive
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Rock Anderson, Jr. is Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Cox Automotive. In this position, he is responsible for all global Human Resources functions, including providing oversight for Corporate and Field Operations, Total Rewards, Employee and Leadership Development and Organizational Effectiveness.
Prior to the formation of Cox Automotive, Anderson was the Regional Vice President responsible for leading all of Manheim’s auction operations in the Western U.S. He also held the position of Vice President of People Strategies at Manheim. Manheim is part of Cox Automotive and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Anderson has held leadership positions with companies including Siemens, Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo) and INROADS Inc. He is a graduate of Dillard University and Tulane University.
Anderson is affiliated with numerous academic, professional and community organizations, and was named one of the Atlanta Business League’s “Men of Influence” for 2013. He is on the Board of Directors and serves as Chairman of the Strategic Implementation Committee for the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Currently, he also serves as Chairman of the Benefits Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee for the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. He is President of the Finance Committee for St. Anthony Catholic Church, is a Leadership Atlanta Alumnus and a member of the One Hundred Black Men of Atlanta. Anderson is also a past President of the Dillard University Alumni Chapter in Atlanta.
Emanuel D. Jones II / Legacy Automotive
General Manager
Jones got his start in the automotive industry as a summer employee with Legacy Automotive, which was founded by his father, Emanuel Jones. He began changing oil, sweeping the shop and performing odd jobs with his father in 2005, at just 14 years old. After graduating high school in 2008, Jones went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in public health and entrepreneurial studies from The Johns Hopkins University. Soon after graduating, Jones decided to join the family business and returned to Legacy Automotive to hone his management skills.
Jones graduated from the National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) Academy in 2013 in the top 5 percent of his class. This academy is the nation’s leading franchise dealer academy where dealers learn the fundamentals to operate a successful and profitable automotive business. Jones also earned his insurance license and has launched Allstate franchises within his dealerships. He’s currently attending Emory University to earn his MBA.
“I was shocked to receive this award, but it is an indicator that there’s some weight to our ideas and they’re starting to get a foothold and grow recognition. Legacy Automotive has a good foundation after almost 25 years in business, but the most successful long-term dealers have an infrastructure in place that can hit regional and national benchmarks that support growth,” said Jones. “The work and education we’re putting in right now as a team will hopefully help us all reap rewards and successes, and perhaps inspire other dealers, too. It’s one thing to run a dealership, but the key is what can only be learned by experience, like the value of a strong team. I love the people I work with every day.”
Cox Automotive is donating $5,000 to a national diversity partner in the winner’s honor. Jones chose 100 Black Men of America, a non-profit organization that endeavors to improve the quality of life of African Americans, particularly youth, in the communities it serves and enhance their educational and economic opportunities. Cox Automotive supports the organization’s Collegiate 100 (C100) program that engages college students and prepares them for educational and economic success. Jones supports the C100 and attends events that boost connections and business growth.
“On behalf of Cox Automotive, I am proud to partner with NAMAD in recognizing Emanuel for his achievements,” said Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer Rock Anderson. “He is the definition of a rising star in our industry, based on his successes with Legacy Automotive dealerships and their contributions to the community in which they work.”
Jones accepted the award at the NAMAD annual meeting awards dinner in Miami on July 21. He was chosen from nominees that met select criteria, including being an NAMAD member under the age of 40 who shows proven leadership qualities in the auto industry.
