Thomas F. McLarty III

Thomas F. McLarty III (Mack McLarty), prominent Arkansas business and political leader and former White House chief of staff, is President of Kissinger McLarty Associates and President and Chief Executive Officer of Asbury Automotive Arkansas, dba McLarty Companies.

The Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. was recently described by Forbes as a "national automotive retailer, operating 93 new and used car dealerships and 23 collision repair centers." At the end of FY 2002, the corporation's revenues had increased by 7% to $4.49B. In part, the increase in revenues was attributed to the company's change in status from an LLC to a corporation.

"The McLarty Companies is comprised of 11 automotive dealerships located in two states that generate in excess of $600 million. Mr. McLarty began his career building the company his grandfather founded, McLarty Leasing Systems, into one of the nation's largest transportation companies." Upon leaving the White House in July 1998, Mr. McLarty returned to the McLarty Companies as its Chairman.

"McLarty has a distinguished record of business leadership and public service, including various roles advising three Presidents: William Jefferson Clinton, George Herbert Walker Bush, and James Earl Carter, Jr.. McLarty worked with President Carter as a member of the Democratic National Committee, was appointed to the National Petroleum Council and the Council on Environment Quality by President Bush, and served President Clinton in several key positions: Chief of Staff, Counselor to the President, and Special Envoy for the Americas, with over five years of service in the President's Cabinet and on the National Economic Council."

In 1976, he became the youngest member ever elected to the Board of Directors of the Arkla Gas/Arkla, Inc., a Fortune 500 natural gas company. In 1983 he became Arkla's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure, the company was recognized by Forbes, The Wall Street Transcript, and The Financial Times for management excellence. In addition to his automotive endeavors.

McLarty was born in Hope, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1969. He was elected to the State Legislature at the age of 23 and served as chairman of the state Democratic Party from 1974-1976."


 * Thomas "Mack" McLarty to Speak on a Century of the Americas at the University of Miami, June 4, 2001


 * "McLarty will discuss the prospects for continued political and economic reform and the importance of sustained U.S. engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean ... Thomas McLarty has a distinguished record of business leadership and public service, and has advised three U.S. Presidents -- Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Jimmy Carter. He played a key role in several major, hemispheric initiatives including helping to enact the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), organize the 1994 Summit of the Americas in Miami, and structure the 1995 Mexican peso stabilization program. His contribution to the region has been recognized by Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and several other Latin American governments which have awarded him their nations' highest civilian honors. He is former [Chairman and] Chief Executive Officer of Arkla, one of the largest natural gas distributors in the United States (1980s). His current company, Kissinger McLarty Associates, provides strategic advisory services to U.S. and multinational businesses."

Affiliations
Commercial


 * Director, Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG)
 * Director, Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internationales, A.C.)
 * Advisory Board, Leeds Weld Equity Partners
 * Senior Advisor, Carlyle Group
 * Advisory Board, Cato Institute/Inter-American Dialogue
 * Advisor, Homeland Security Ventures
 * Advisor, Magnet Group LLC
 * Consumer Advisory Board, Household (Household Finance/Beneficial Finance)

Non-Profit


 * Director, Council of the Americas
 * Trustee, Center for the Study of the Presidency
 * Internatonal Council of Trustees, Religions for Peace
 * Advisory Board, New Democrat Network
 * Member, U.S.-Mexico Binational Council
 * Member, Council on Foreign Relations (2001)
 * Former member, Independent Task Force on Columbia
 * Trustee, Center for the Study of the Presidency
 * International Trustee, Religions for Peace

Other Related SourceWatch Resources

 * McLarty: Link to Homeland (Un)-Security
 * Homeland Security Ventures