Sam Klemet is stepping down as executive director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, effective yesterday, handing off the wheel just as the group shifts into full-throttle planning for the 2027 Detroit Auto Show. The move comes as organizers pivot from wrapping the 2026 event into vendor, sponsor, and programming work for next year. Local dealers and event partners say the handoff will need to be clean and quick to keep momentum with exhibitors and community groups.
According to the Detroit Free Press, DADA notified members Thursday that the leadership transition is effective immediately and that its executive committee will oversee operations while the organization conducts a national search for a successor. The Free Press reported that the committee is led by DADA president Katie Coleman and includes Detroit Auto Show leadership figures such as 2027 show chair Lincoln Phillip, a setup meant to keep the show’s long lead-time planning on track while new executive leadership is found.
In a news release quoted by FOX 2 Detroit, Coleman thanked Klemet “for his service to the DADA and his contributions to the continued evolution of the Detroit Auto Show.” The same release quoted Klemet as saying he is “pursuing other professional opportunities” and wishing the organization success as it moves ahead without him.
Background on Klemet and the Organization
Klemet joined the association in 2024 as a co-executive director after serving as president and CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, as local coverage at WXYZ noted at the time. He came in to work alongside longtime DADA director Rod Alberts while the show retooled its leadership structure and programming mix. During his brief tenure, Klemet helped drive more hands-on programming and STEM partnerships that organizers say broadened the show’s appeal for students and families.
What It Means for the Auto Show
The leadership change hits as the Detroit Auto Show continues shifting into a year-round operation. Organizers have touted a return to a January schedule that included expanded public programming and, by the group’s own accounting, 275,000 visitors with an estimated economic impact in the low hundreds of millions. As outlined on the show’s website, dates are already posted for January 12 to 24, 2027, which means much of the exhibitor, vendor, and sponsorship work is already in motion. Organizers and partners say any slowdown at the top could tighten timelines for contracts and programming decisions.
Next Steps and Who Is Running the Search
FOX 2 Detroit reported that the association has tapped former longtime director Rod Alberts to assist with the search and transition. The association says it is actively pursuing candidates for the executive director role and expects the executive committee to guide hiring and short-term show logistics until a permanent replacement is in place. DADA did not include a public timetable for the search in the release quoted by local outlets.
The Detroit Auto Dealers Association represents dealer interests and oversees the North American International Auto Show, which the organization describes as a long-standing fixture for commerce and community in Metro Detroit. For now, association leaders say their priority is a seamless leadership transition that protects relationships with automakers, sponsors, and the volunteers who help stage the Motor City’s signature event.
