Reynolds and Reynolds Taps IBM Executive

The Reynolds and Reynolds Co. announced it has named former IBM executive Alan Chakra to the position of vice president of its car company solutions group. The division is focused on IT, software, and services to support automotive and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide.

Chakra previously served as director of IBM's service after sales solutions business. He launched this business for IBM in 2000 to serve the needs of OEMs and OEM products throughout their operating lifecycle.

"Our vision is to create a seamless automotive retailing experience, connecting car companies, automotive retailers, and consumers," said Lloyd Waterhouse, CEO, chairman and president of Reynolds and Reynolds, in a company statement. "We are confident we have a unique opportunity to define ourselves in front of car companies and vehicle OEMs, building on our seven decades of automotive experience."

In related news, Networkcar Inc., a Reynolds and Reynolds company, this week announced that it has acquired the rights to a patent for a system that collects, transmits, and displays diagnostic and performance information from motor vehicles equipped with onboard diagnostic systems.

This patent describes an in-vehicle device that collects diagnostic and location-based information from a vehicle, and then wirelessly transmits this information to a central, Internet-accessible computer. The computer translates and displays the information to diagnose and locate the vehicle. A user views the information from a secure Web page.

According to the company, the Networkcar product allows consumers to locate their car, access diagnostic information, and schedule maintenance all through a secure Web page.