A global events company bought a majority stake in Barrett-Jackson, a move that the Scottsdale-based collector car auction and events company said will take them to the next level.
“This gives us a global partner,” Craig Jackson, CEO and chairman of Barrett-Jackson, said. “The other events they own and run, they do things on another level worldwide, and they will take us to another level.”While Jackson will remain CEO and chairman, and Steve Davis will remain in his role as president, the move gives the company more horsepower.
For now, Jackson said, the focus is to grow the experiences and events in those cities, but there could be opportunities to expand the footprint in the future with IMG.Jackson’s parents, Russ and Nellie Jackson, and Tom Barrett founded Barrett-Jackson in 1971. Jackson, a Coronado High School graduate, is a car guy. He got an associate's degree in automotive technology, but has said he dropped out of Arizona State University when he realized he could make more money restoring cars at his dad's shop.Jackson took over the business in 1995 and is a constant presence during the auction that attracts crowds not just for the rare cars, but for the celebrities who often accompany them.
Global never sounds good