A multigenerational ownership transition marks a new chapter as Jason Willis assumes leadership in partnership with Collin Sewell following Rich Willis’s retirement.
Performance Brokerage Services, North America’s highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Willis Automotive with 11 locations in Iowa, from Rich Willis and Willis Automotive to Collin Sewell and Jason Willis.
The transaction includes Lexus, Volvo Cars, Land Rover, Cadillac, Infiniti, and Mini in Des Moines, Chevrolet in Granger, and Nissan in Urbandale, Iowa. Additionally, the sale includes two pre-owned dealerships in Waukee and Urbandale, as well as a Jaguar authorized service location in Des Moines, Iowa.
Willis Automotive’s Iowa Roots
Willis Automotive traces its roots back to 1947 when Charles H. Betts, Sr. founded Betts Cadillac-Oldsmobile in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1972, Rich Willis joined the Betts family in business, and in 1988, began a multiyear buy-out from the Betts family. The buy-out was completed in 2000 and the company changed the name of the Betts Auto Campus to Willis Auto Campus in 2008. Under Rich’s leadership, Willis Automotive became a leading dealership group in Iowa with a campus of over 20-acres and nearly 450 employees.
In 2006, Rich Willis was named an Iowa finalist for the TIME Dealer of the Year award, and in 2022 was awarded the Cadillac Dealer of the Year award.
A Longstanding Relationship
Willis Automotive has previously worked with Performance Brokerage Services on multiple dealership acquisitions, including the purchase of Chevrolet in Granger in 2020 and Nissan of Urbandale in 2022.
Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of nearly 450 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. Paul Kechnie, Matt Willis, and Jamie Farley, the Texas & Midwest Partners of Performance Brokerage Services, were the exclusive sell-side advisors for this transaction.
“It was an honor to represent Rich Willis in the sale of his dealerships to Collin Sewell and Jason Willis,” Paul Kechnie commented. “Rich has dedicated his career to building his business in Des Moines, Iowa, expanding its franchise portfolio while serving as a strong advocate for the greater Des Moines community. We appreciate the trust he placed in us during this important transition and wish him all the best as he begins his next chapter.”
Continuity Under New Ownership
Following the retirement of Rich Willis, Jason Willis steps in as CEO of Willis Automotive, acquiring the dealerships in partnership with Collin Sewell of the Sewell Family of Companies. Jason joined Willis Automotive’s executive leadership team in 2013 and was appointed dealer principal in 2019, bringing extensive experience with the family business to his new role as CEO. Collin brings a multigenerational automotive retail background through the Sewell family, which has been in the automotive industry since 1911. While Willis Automotive will remain an independent organization under its established name and separate from the Sewell Family of Companies, this unique partnership between Jason Willis and Collin Sewell combines generations of industry experience and knowledge.
Willis Automotive will continue operation under their existing dealership names and will remain at all current locations.
