KUKUI Appoints Eric Harber CEO

Rick Sage • July 27, 2023
A man in a plaid shirt is smiling for the camera.

KUKUI, the leading provider of integrated marketing automation and business analytics solutions for the automotive industry today announced that Eric Harber has been named the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to succeed Lorie Sharp.  The Board of Directors would like to thank Lorie for her leadership over the last 3 years.


Harber is an experienced and accomplished executive with a demonstrated track record of building and growing companies by driving transformational business initiatives.   Most recently, Eric served as an Operating Partner for Diversis Capital, a software company focused Private Equity firm, where he served as an adviser to CEOs, Founders, and Boards of Directors.   Prior to Eric’s Private Equity Operating Partner experience, he served as CEO of Flowroute Inc, a SaaS software business, where he led transformational growth for the company.   “Eric is a seasoned executive with experience in software product development, sales, marketing, and customer success and we are excited by the future potential of the company under his leadership” said Hunter Witherington, SSM Partners.   The appointment of Harber demonstrates  KUKUI’s Board of Directors’ commitment to build on the success of the company over the last couple of years and most importantly, to invest in new technologies to address  the needs of KUKUI’s customers as rapid advancements in technology change the landscape of the automotive aftermarket industry.    Harber brings over twenty-five years of experience leading and transforming global software companies through ever-changing competitive landscapes.   


“As an experienced SaaS software leader, I am honored to join KUKUI as CEO and am excited to build on the company's leadership in the automotive aftermarket by providing repair shops with integrated and automated marketing, CRM, and analytics. I look forward to working with the KUKUI team to provide innovative products, serve our clients and help those clients achieve their goals.”


“The Board of Directors looks forward to our next stage of evolutionary growth as we continue to invest in our customers' success through technology, and Harber is the perfect CEO to lead us there,” said KUKUI Executive Chairman, Jim Tallman.


About KUKUI 

KUKUI is the leading marketing and customer relationship solutions platform for the automotive aftermarket,  providing a SaaS platform with website, lead generation, and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions that drive revenue growth and customer retention for automotive shops.


KUKUI’s All-in-One Success Platform® provides auto repair shops with a branded, SEO-optimized website, robust CRM, PPC management, call tracking, online appointment setting, online payments, text communication, review management and intuitive analytics. Repair shop owners can also take advantage of customer engagement and trust-building solutions like digital vehicle inspections as well as automated postcard, email, and text marketing campaigns.


Graphic about “AI Signals You Can’t Fake or Force” with glowing social icons and a flashlight on dark blue background
By Heather Myers June 18, 2026
AI visibility isn’t just your website or Google profile. Unscripted mentions on Reddit, Yelp, forums, and social groups build the trust AI values most today.
Futuristic storefronts under a rising green arrow, with location pins and analytics icons on a blue background
By Rick Sage June 16, 2026
New KUKUI Data Reveals How Leading MSOs Are Scaling Revenue, Improving Customer Retention, and Driving Measurable Growth
Google review shield with rating card and user icons on a blue background
By Lori Metzler June 11, 2026
Google's 2026 review policy crackdown targets review gating, kiosks, and filtered feedback. Learn how to stay compliant and build trust.
Digital AI customer support interface with chat, rating stars, magnifying glass, and location pin icons
By Summer Lee June 9, 2026
Customer reviews now shape AI search visibility. Detailed, authentic reviews help AI understand your services, build trust, and recommend your shop.
AI-powered flashlight shining on a Google business profile card with review and analytics icons
By Heather Myers June 4, 2026
AI is changing how customers find repair shops. Learn how reviews, Google Business Profiles, photos, and social signals influence AI recommendations.
AI call insights infographic with blue dashboard and “10 best practices” text
By Mary Wirth June 2, 2026
Get more value from AI Call Insights with 10 practical tips to spot coaching opportunities, track performance trends, and convert more callers into customers.
Smartphone and Google review bubbles beside a lit auto repair shop at night
By Heather Myers May 21, 2026
AI search is changing how customers find repair shops. Learn what helps your shop appear in ChatGPT, Google AI, and Gemini recommendations for local search results.
ChatGPT vs. AI powering your software banner with developer at desk and code on dark screen
By Heather Myers May 7, 2026
ChatGPT is powerful, but it’s not built for your shop. Learn how AI in your software uses real data to drive smarter decisions and better business results.
Promotional graphic of a hand holding a phone beside a laptop, with text “Stay active everywhere, automatically.”
By Gabby Oglesby April 28, 2026
Automate your social media with 2 weekly posts published to Facebook, Instagram, and Google—keeping your shop visible online without extra work.
Hand writing on a document with a pen beside eyeglasses on a desk
By Heather Myers April 23, 2026
Understand AI-generated reports for your auto repair shop. Use the Fact, Inference, or Guess framework to improve your insights.