EDMONTON, AB — February 18, 2026 — Leads & Copy — AutoCanada Inc. (TSX: ACQ) has appointed Samuel Cochrane as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Cochrane will also serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) while the Company searches for a permanent CFO.
Cochrane joined AutoCanada in August 2024 as CFO. In October 2025, he was appointed Interim CEO while continuing as CFO.
Christopher Harris, Chair of the Board, said that Cochrane has demonstrated decisive leadership and a deep understanding of AutoCanada’s business during his tenure. Harris added that since stepping into the interim CEO role in November, Cochrane has brought focus, accountability, and discipline to the company’s operations. The Board is confident he is the right leader to strengthen dealership performance, build on the strong momentum in the collision business, and position the Company for long-term value creation.
As Interim CEO and CFO, Cochrane has prioritized stabilizing the dealership business, enhancing operational discipline, and conducting a thorough assessment of performance across the organization.
Cochrane said he is excited to lead AutoCanada at such a pivotal point in the Company’s transformation, noting that AutoCanada has valuable assets, strong brands, and dedicated people. He added that their collision business continues to perform well, offers significant growth opportunities, and will be an increasingly important contributor to the company’s results. At the same time, there is significant work ahead to consistently deliver the level of performance expected from their dealership network. He said his focus is on returning their dealership business to its operational roots, driving clarity, accountability, and a relentless emphasis on customers and execution at the store level.
Cochrane has an extensive public company background, having served as Chief Financial Officer at Sierra Wireless and Avigilon Corporation. He also held several leadership roles at Motorola Solutions Inc. and SNC-Lavalin (now AtkinsRéalis). Cochrane articled with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and is a Chartered Accountant; he also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia.
Cochrane said that the company will be disciplined in how they allocate resources and ensure the organization is structured to best support their operators and frontline teams. He added that this includes simplifying how they operate and removing unnecessary complexity so their dealerships can move faster and perform better and that their success depends on strong relationships with their OEMs, empowered leaders, disciplined capital allocation, and a culture that puts customers first while valuing simplicity, speed, and results.
AutoCanada’s Canadian Dealership Operations include 64 franchised dealerships representing 23 automotive brands across eight provinces, as well as three independent used dealerships. The Company currently sells Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, and Volkswagen vehicles. In 2024, AutoCanada’s Canadian dealerships sold approximately 85,000 new and used retail vehicles.
AutoCanada’s Canadian Collision Operations consist of 33 collision centers and one calibration center, supported by 26 OEM certifications covering 37 vehicle brands. The Company’s collision network enables customer retention across multiple touchpoints within the automotive ownership lifecycle.
AutoCanada’s U.S. Operations, which are held for sale and reported as discontinued operations, consist of 13 franchised dealerships representing nine automotive brands located in Illinois. U.S. dealerships sell Audi, Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen vehicles.
Additional information about AutoCanada is available at the Company’s website and on SEDAR+.
Source: AutoCanada Inc.
