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Polk Promotes Kendra Rawls To Senior Vice President, Global Sales Operations


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Realigned sales organization focuses on global customer needs

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 26, 2008 - Kendra Rawls has been promoted to senior vice president and managing director, global sales operations for Polk Global Automotive, a business unit of R. L. Polk & Co. Rawls joined Polk in 2003 and most recently led the company's European operations, along with Polk's global price and specifications business. She also has served in several leadership roles within the company including managing director of Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

In her new role, Rawls will oversee Polk's newly-formed global sales operation. Her responsibilities include formulating the overall business objectives and strategic plans to meet customers' needs. She will oversee Polk's offices in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom as well as lead sales activities for the U.S., Canada, China, Japan and Australia. Rawls will report to Joe Walker, president, Polk Global Automotive.

"Kendra is uniquely qualified for this new role within our organization," said Walker. "Her dynamic leadership, product expertise and proven track record in helping customers solve their most pressing business challenges within the automotive industry will help advance Polk as we continue to build our operations to serve customers on a broad, global scale."

Rawls' appointment further solidifies Polk's leading position as a worldwide provider of automotive intelligence and supporting technology and brings focus to its global expertise.

Rawls has more than 18 years of experience in the automotive industry. Prior to joining Polk, Rawls spent 13 years in a variety of increasingly prominent positions within Ford Motor Company's sales and marketing group. She holds a bachelor's degree of business administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Eli Broad College of Management at Michigan State University.