ATLANTA - Cox Automotive named Shirley Powell as its vice president of communications and community relations. She will lead and manage day-to-day operations of the company's global communications organization, according to F&I and Showroom magazine.

Powell has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications and most recently served as executive vice president and chief communications officer at The Weather Company, where she oversaw internal and external communications.

"Cox Automotive has a great story to tell about how we are connecting the entire automotive ecosystem, and Shirley brings expertise that will enable us to clearly communicate the strength and value of our brands and services," said John Kovac, senior vice president of marketing at Cox Automotive. "Shirley's superior leadership style and broad experience with leading global communications for multi-brand organizations will be an incredible asset to the company and elevate our visibility among clients and consumers."