Bill O’Hara stands as a prominent figure in the automotive industry, currently serving as the VP & GM of Operations for Mercedes-Benz/Sprinter of Hoffman Estates. His journey is a testament to dedication and a deep understanding of the car business, cultivated over decades of experience. Before joining Zeigler Auto Group, O’Hara had already established himself as a seasoned professional, holding diverse management roles and even successfully owning his own dealership from 1994 to 2012.
Bill O'Hara, VP and GM Operations Mercedes-Benz Hoffman Estates
O’Hara’s automotive career began in 1977 as a part-time porter while still in high school. This entry-level position was the starting point of a remarkable climb through the ranks of sales and management. During these formative years, he absorbed invaluable lessons about customer service, recognizing its crucial role in building a thriving business. These early insights proved instrumental in his later success, culminating in an impressive 2,000-unit sales year for both new and used vehicles at his own dealership in 1999. This achievement underscores his exceptional sales acumen and leadership capabilities within the competitive automotive market.
In his present role, Bill O’Hara’s responsibilities extend beyond Mercedes-Benz/Sprinter of Hoffman Estates. He also oversees operations at INFINITI of Hoffman Estates, and Jaguar Land Rover Schaumburg. His promotion to this expanded position in January 2020 followed a successful tenure in various leadership roles within Zeigler Auto Group since joining in 2013. His initial role at Zeigler was as GM of BMW of Orland Park. Following Zeigler’s acquisition of MINI of Orland Park, Zeigler Nissan of Orland Park, and INFINITI of Orland Park in 2015, O’Hara’s responsibilities grew to VP and GM of Operations in Orland Park. He held this regional leadership position until December of the previous year, consistently demonstrating his ability to manage and optimize complex dealership operations.
A key aspect of Zeigler Auto Group that resonates with O’Hara is its commitment to promoting from within. He experienced this firsthand at the Orland Park locations and is enthusiastic about fostering a similar culture at Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg. This philosophy aligns with his personal values and professional experience, emphasizing employee growth and internal advancement opportunities.
“To be a part of Zeigler Auto Group is very special,” O’Hara states. “It’s a family-owned and family-run operation. Aaron Zeigler is an amazing CEO and visionary! The culture he has created within our team and with our employees is addictive. We want our people to wake up and be excited to come into work. Promoting from inside our group is very important, it means a lot to me to see our employees grow within our company and reach their personal goals.” This quote highlights the positive and employee-centric environment at Zeigler, a factor that clearly motivates O’Hara in his leadership role at Mercedes-Benz Hoffman Estates and across his broader responsibilities.
Beyond his professional life at Mercedes-Benz Hoffman Estates and Zeigler Auto Group, Bill O’Hara resides in Orland Park, IL, with his wife Wanda. They have been married for 32 years and have three adult children: Courtney, Kelly, and Will. Interestingly, continuing the family’s automotive legacy, Will O’Hara is currently the GM of BMW of Orland Park. In his leisure time, Bill enjoys family life, particularly spending time with his grandson, and pursues hobbies such as golfing, boating, and a 25-year tradition of professional snowmobile drag racing with his son.
