Bill O’Hara stands as the VP & GM of Operations for Mercedes-Benz/Sprinter of Hoffman Estates, bringing a wealth of automotive industry expertise to this key role. 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, with years in various management positions and even a successful run as a dealership owner from 1994 to 2012.
Bill O'Hara, VP & GM of Operations at Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates, automotive industry leader.
O’Hara’s career began from the ground up, starting as a part-time porter in 1977 while still in high school. This early experience provided him with a foundational understanding of dealership operations. As he progressed through sales and management roles, he honed crucial skills in customer service, recognizing its paramount importance in building a thriving business. This customer-centric approach was instrumental in his success, culminating in his own dealership achieving an impressive 2,000 unit sales year for both new and used vehicles in 1999.
In his current capacity, Bill O’Hara not only oversees Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates but also holds responsibility for INFINITI of Hoffman Estates, and Jaguar Land Rover Schaumburg. His promotion to this expanded role in January 2020 followed a successful tenure in various leadership positions within Zeigler Auto Group since joining in 2013.
His initial role at Zeigler was as GM of BMW of Orland Park. Following Zeigler’s strategic acquisition of MINI of Orland Park, Zeigler Nissan of Orland Park, and INFINITI of Orland Park in 2015, O’Hara’s responsibilities grew. He was promoted to VP and GM of Operations in Orland Park, overseeing the entire region until December of the previous year.
O’Hara emphasizes that a significant factor in his positive experience with Zeigler is the company’s culture of internal promotion, a practice he witnessed firsthand in the Orland Park locations. He is now committed to fostering this same environment at Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg.
“Being part of Zeigler Auto Group is truly special,” O’Hara states. “It’s a family-owned and family-run organization. Aaron Zeigler is an exceptional CEO and a true visionary. The culture he’s cultivated within our team and among our employees is infectious. We want our team members to be excited about coming to work each day. Promoting from within our group is a priority, and it’s incredibly rewarding for me to see our employees develop within the company and achieve their personal career goals.”
Residing in Orland Park, IL, with his wife Wanda of 32 years, Bill is a family man with three children: Courtney (29), a Sr. Business Process Associate at Help at Home; Kelly (26), an ERP Business Systems Analyst at Viega LLC; and Will O’Hara (31), who has followed in his father’s footsteps and is currently the GM of BMW of Orland Park. Outside of his demanding professional life at Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates and beyond, Bill enjoys spending quality time with his 8-month-old grandson, pursuing hobbies such as golfing and boating, and continuing a 25-year tradition of professional snowmobile drag racing with his son.
