Dave Cantin Group Announces New Brand Identity, Heightened Advisory Focus as Dealer Consolidation Accelerates

New York, New York — February 1, 2026 — Dave Cantin Group (DCG), a leading mergers-and-acquisitions advisory company to retail automotive groups and their owners, unveiled a new brand identity reflecting its commitment to building and protecting the legacy of its automotive group clients through elevated advisory services.

“The updated brand mark conveys the strength and long-term perspective dealers need as they build and evolve their businesses, from ongoing day-to-day operations through M&A,” DCG President Brian Gordon said. “Dealer groups are constantly adapting to a fast-changing industry, and our advisory work has to evolve with them.”

DCG’s 2026 Market Outlook Report, to be published this week, projects accelerating consolidation of the retail automotive landscape, led by larger, privately held groups expanding regionally.

“Consolidation shifts the whole market,” DCG CEO Dave Cantin said. “Dealer groups always need to be thinking strategically about what comes next – how changes in the dealership landscape impact their existing strategies and how to recalibrate. That’s where we come in.”

That consolidation is already off to a fast start. Last month, DCG served as exclusive sell-side advisor to Midwestern Auto Group owner, Mark Brentlinger, in the sale of his luxury platform to the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family. Ferrari, Lamborghini and 12 other primarily premium and luxury brands changed hands in the historic $500 million (total acquisition value) automotive acquisition, the largest in Ohio history.

“Economic data, OEM moves, competition, and ownership plans all affect what a store is worth and how — or whether — it fits in a platform,” DCG Chief of Staff Brian Traugott said.

In response to the accelerating pace of auto-retail change, DCG has expanded beyond its industry-leading transaction execution practice, where it exclusively represents either the buyer or seller, to provide ongoing advisory support, including succession planning, platform management, enterprise value assessments, and strategic acquisition-targeting.

DCG is working with executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles to hire a Chief Acquisition Officer to oversee client relationships and the company’s advisory team. DCG also plans to hire three additional advisors this quarter. The first, Ray Mikiciuk, joined DCG on January 19. Mikiciuk brings more than 30 years of retail automotive experience, including senior leadership roles at Victory Automotive Group, American Honda Motor Company and Volkswagen of America.

As dealership consolidation accelerates and dealer operations grow more complex, DCG’s new brand reflects the industry’s shift toward continuous, strategic advisory support alongside buy-sell execution.