John S. Van Alstyne has led I-CAR for 15 years and readies to hand reins to longtime I-CAR board member and collision industry veteran
Hoffman Estates, Ill.—I-CAR has announced the appointment of Kyle G. Thompson as CEO and president, effective May 5. John S. Van Alstyne, who has led I-CAR for 15 years, is set to retire later this year as previously planned, following the official announcement of his retirement in April 2024.
“It has been an incredible privilege to lead I-CAR over the past 15 years, and I’m deeply proud of the work we’ve accomplished as a team on behalf of the industry,” said Van Alstyne. “As an industry we are more broadly performing complete, safe and quality repairs and more connected because of the dedication of our team and the support of our partners. I have full confidence in Kyle’s leadership and the future of I-CAR under his guidance.”
During Van Alstyne’s tenure, I-CAR reinvested over $57.9 million into initiatives to better serve the industry. He also led significant growth in I-CAR Gold Class shops, nearly quadrupling the number of credentialed shops to over 10,000 by the end of 2024.
Kyle Thompson served on I-CAR’s board of directors for nine years and assumed the chairmanship in 2020. Under Thompson as board chair, I-CAR earned accreditation from the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), the only such accredited organization in the collision repair industry.
He also championed the opening of the Chicago Technical Center and launch of I-CAR’s Talent Programming Initiative, both of which are and will significantly benefit the industry.
“I am both honored and excited to step into the CEO role at I-CAR,” said Thompson. “John has left an extraordinary legacy, and I’m committed to continuing the important work he leaves behind. I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated team, industry partners, and stakeholders to ensure that I-CAR remains a trusted leader in advancing consumer safety, technical education and related services, and serving our industry with excellence.”
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