
Jessica Stafford
Senior Vice President Consumer Solutions, Cox Automotive
As Senior Vice President of Consumer Solutions for Cox Automotive, Jessica Stafford leads a team of over 2000, running the two largest automotive shopping brands – Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book – as well as the largest dealer website and marketing business in Dealer.com and Esntial Commerce, Cox’s industry-leading dealer marketing and e-commerce brands. Jessica is focused on driving strategy, innovation and execution to make the car shopping and buying experience easy and exciting by connecting buyers with sellers in a seamless way, and driving profitable, digital transactions.
“More than ever, as online automotive transactions continue to evolve, retailers rely on the valuable data and insights about consumers that only Cox Automotive’s marketplaces can deliver,” Stafford explained.
Stafford is currently leading the effort to completely re-invent the marketing solution that Cox Automotive offers to its customers –launching a brand-new content marketing offering to the industry that is first of its kind, and driving value to customers and a best-in-class experience to consumers in the car shopping process.
Connecting all of the marketing tools available across Cox Automotive and aligning to a new marketing science capability and data that only Cox Automotive has access to.
Focused on driving higher quality leads and actual sales for dealers, Stafford also recently oversaw the dramatic transformation of the All-New Autotrader – a faster, more personalized online shopping experience that delivers true price confidence for today’s consumers and drives even more engaged shoppers to the most relevant dealer listings. Stafford also is leading the concentrated effort on clear value articulation and attribution, which sets Cox Automotive apart from others in the industry.
Previously, Stafford served as Vice President of Marketing for Cox Automotive’s portfolio of powerhouse brands in the Media Solutions Group, which includes Autotrader, Dealer.com and Kelley Blue Book. Her experience in digital marketing strategy and attribution provides a unique, fresh perspective and directly
connects to Autotrader and the value it offers clients.
In her marketing leadership role, she pushed creative boundaries and elevated the three leading brands’ visibility, consumer and client reach. Overseeing strategy and execution for all B2C and B2B marketing and advertising initiatives, Stafford’s signature multi-channel creative campaigns and high-profile sports and
entertainment sponsorships (such as NBA on TNT and NASCAR) have made Autotrader a household name.
Her ability to bring in new and innovative approaches to client and consumer marketing have transformed the way we communicate in the marketplace and enabled a truly data-driven approach to scientific marketing.
Stafford also has a distinctive industry voice and key relationships. She’s appeared regularly on CBS’s daytime show The Talk and provides commentary to numerous automotive, advertising and marketing publications.
She’s been recognized as one of AdWeek’s Rising Stars, as well as AutoRemarketing’s 40 Under 40 and top Women in Remarketing, and was honored as one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 in 2019.
Stafford joined Autotrader in 2007 as the Associate Manager of Digital Marketing.
A Florida native, Stafford lives in Atlanta with her husband and two aspiring MLB star sons. She and her teams are active with the Special Olympics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the United Way. She serves on the board of Girls, Inc of Greater Atlanta driving progress in diversity and inclusion in the areas of STEAM.