The board of the National Automobile Dealers Association picked its 2026 leadership from the East Coast.

Rob Cochran, chairman and CEO of the #1 Cochran auto group centered in western Pennsylvania, was elected NADA board chairman after serving this year in the vice chairman role. 

Sandy Fitzgerald Angello, dealer operator of Pohanka Automotive Group in Maryland, will serve as next year's vice chairman, only the second woman elected to a NADA board officer post in the trade group's more than 100-year history. The first was Annette Sykora of Smith Auto Family in Texas, who served as vice chairman in 2007 and chairman the following year.

Cochran will succeed Tom Castriota of Castriota Chevrolet in Florida in the chairman post. He said advocacy on the part of his fellow dealers is crucial in a transforming field.

“I look forward to working with the NADA board, along with state and metro dealer associations, to ensure the needs of Main Street dealers and their customers remain at the forefront of policy, education, and advocacy,” Cochran said in a statement about the elections.

The Carnegie Mellon University alumnus is the Cochran family business’ second generation and has headed it for more than 30 years. The group has 35 dealerships among 20 brands, in addition to a dozen body shops and a wholesale parts distribution center.

Cochran has served on the NADA board since 2020, in addition to past service as chairman of Pennsylvania’s auto dealer trade group.

Angello has worked in the auto retail industry for more than 40 years and has served on NADA’s board since 2021. Her auto group has more than 20 dealerships.

The board elected Joe Massarelli of Liberty Auto City in Illinois as secretary and re-elected Kirt Frye of Sunnyside Automotive Group in Ohio as treasurer.

All four will start their one-year terms at the NADA Show in February.

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