Gillett Evernham Motorsports names team CEO

Gillett Evernham Motorsports has announced the appointment of Tom Reddin as its new chief executive officer overseeing the team's three NASCAR Sprint Cup teams and its single Nationwide team.

Reddin's business background combines experience in consumer packaged goods, e-commerce and technology experience gained at Kraft Foods, CBS, Coca-Cola and LendingTree where he ultimately served as chief executive officer.

Reddin was an early stage member of the LendingTree start-up, joining the company from Coca-Cola in 1999, launching the "When Banks Compete, You Win" ad campaign and helping to guide the company from a small private company to a public company with more than $400 million in revenue and 2000 employees. The company was ultimately sold to IAC/Interactive Corp.

"This is another step in our plan toward build a winning organization," said co-owner Ray Evernham. "Tom is a world-class business executive who brings a wealth of experience to Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

His management style will enable this organization to maximize its production off the track so the competition side has the resources to win races and contend for championships."

Reddin sees a transformation in NASCAR and thinks he can help this team keep up with that.

"NASCAR is changing," he said in a news release. "These race teams now are top-flight businesses that have to be as good off the track in the business community as they are on the track. I have grown and built businesses my entire career. To succeed in this sport in the coming years, you are going to have to have a business plan that provides a major win for your business partners, your drivers and your employees. Success will center on people, process and technology. You have to excel in all three dimensions."