Full Name
Damian Mills
Job Title
Chief Executive Officer and Minority Owner
Company
Mills Automotive Group and Charlotte Hornets
Speaker Bio
Damian Mills is the Founder and CEO of Mills Automotive Group, one of the nation’s premier
automotive dealership groups. In addition to the Mills Automotive Group, Damian is also a sports
investment entrepreneur whose recent investments include the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, the North
Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League, and Carolina FC of the United Soccer League.
Damian was 29 and the General Manager of a Dodge dealership owned by Asbury Automotive Group
when he had the opportunity to buy his own dealership as part of the Ford Motor Company’s dealer
development program. The purchase required a sizable investment and a 65% pay cut, creating a lot of doubt about the future, but in hindsight, Damian’s hard work, faith, and supportive wife carried him
through this early uncertainty, and this father of three persevered and continues to thrive.
Since his first Ford dealership in Smithfield, NC, Damian has grown the Mills Automotive Group to
include dealerships specializing in nearly every popular automotive brand, including Lincoln, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Nissan, Toyota, Alpha Romeo, Maserati, Bentley, Honda, Porsche, Mazda, Infiniti, Volvo, INEOS, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Hyundai, Genesis, Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover, Infiniti, and Volvo. Damian’s business is driven by his focus on finding the best talent for his dealerships, which consists of five guiding pillars: (1) Character, (2) Integrity, (3) Work Ethic, (4) Team Work, and (5) Performance. With his guiding principles, Damian’s group has expanded from his first dealer development store to 32 dealerships spanning six states.
Damian’s ultimate vision is to grow the Mills brand by increasing the number of automotive brands that Mills Automotive Group is privileged to represent. Damian strives for inclusion rather than exclusion in his businesses, which incorporates vast diversity within his dealership platform. His inclusivity advances the opportunity of an everchanging American landscape and helps distinguish the “Mills Way” for both his employees and the ever-growing number of customers that he serves.
In 2023, Damian reinforced his long-standing commitment to the Charlotte area and the State of North Carolina when he joined forces with the investment group that bought the Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan. In 2024, Damian acquired minority stakes in the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League and North Carolina FC of the United Soccer League Championship.
automotive dealership groups. In addition to the Mills Automotive Group, Damian is also a sports
investment entrepreneur whose recent investments include the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, the North
Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League, and Carolina FC of the United Soccer League.
Damian was 29 and the General Manager of a Dodge dealership owned by Asbury Automotive Group
when he had the opportunity to buy his own dealership as part of the Ford Motor Company’s dealer
development program. The purchase required a sizable investment and a 65% pay cut, creating a lot of doubt about the future, but in hindsight, Damian’s hard work, faith, and supportive wife carried him
through this early uncertainty, and this father of three persevered and continues to thrive.
Since his first Ford dealership in Smithfield, NC, Damian has grown the Mills Automotive Group to
include dealerships specializing in nearly every popular automotive brand, including Lincoln, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Nissan, Toyota, Alpha Romeo, Maserati, Bentley, Honda, Porsche, Mazda, Infiniti, Volvo, INEOS, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Hyundai, Genesis, Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover, Infiniti, and Volvo. Damian’s business is driven by his focus on finding the best talent for his dealerships, which consists of five guiding pillars: (1) Character, (2) Integrity, (3) Work Ethic, (4) Team Work, and (5) Performance. With his guiding principles, Damian’s group has expanded from his first dealer development store to 32 dealerships spanning six states.
Damian’s ultimate vision is to grow the Mills brand by increasing the number of automotive brands that Mills Automotive Group is privileged to represent. Damian strives for inclusion rather than exclusion in his businesses, which incorporates vast diversity within his dealership platform. His inclusivity advances the opportunity of an everchanging American landscape and helps distinguish the “Mills Way” for both his employees and the ever-growing number of customers that he serves.
In 2023, Damian reinforced his long-standing commitment to the Charlotte area and the State of North Carolina when he joined forces with the investment group that bought the Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan. In 2024, Damian acquired minority stakes in the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League and North Carolina FC of the United Soccer League Championship.