8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

October 18, 2012 (October 17, 2012)

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

001-31262	01-0609375
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2905 Premiere Parkway NW Suite 300 Duluth, GA	30097
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(770) 418-8200

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

None

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On October 17, 2012, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (the “Company”), upon the recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board, elected Michael S. Kearney, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company as a Class II member of the Board. In accordance with the Company's restated certificate of incorporation, Class II directors will be subject to renomination to the Board prior to, or a reelection at, the Company's 2013 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Kearney, 61, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since March 2009.

As an employee of the Company, Mr. Kearney will not receive a retainer or any other fees for service on the Board.

On October 18, 2012 the Company issued a press release announcing the election of Mr. Kearney to the Board, which press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

The following exhibit is furnished as part of this report.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated October 18, 2012.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Date: October 18, 2012	By:	/s/  George A. Villasana
	Name:	George A. Villasana
	Title:	Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated October 18, 2012.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Investors May Contact:

Ryan Marsh

VP & Treasurer

(770) 418-8211

ir@asburyauto.com

Reporters May Contact:

Melissa Corey

Public Relations & Communications Manager

(770) 418-8231

mcorey@asburyauto.com

Asbury Automotive Group Appoints

Michael S. Kearney Industry Veteran to Board of Directors

DULUTH, GA., October 18, 2012 - Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE: ABG), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., today announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Michael S. Kearney has been appointed to its Board of Directors. With Kearney's appointment, the Board of Directors now consists of nine members.

“I am pleased to welcome Michael as a member of our Board,” said Asbury's Chairman Thomas DeLoach, Jr. “Michael has over 30 years of automotive retail experience, 22 of which are with this company, and has cultivated numerous deep relationships throughout the industry. He is an outstanding addition to our Board.”

“Michael's demonstrated leadership abilities and extensive knowledge of the automotive retail business have proven invaluable in rebuilding our company and positioning us well with a strong operational foundation for the future,” said President and CEO Craig Monaghan. “It's been a pleasure to work with Michael, and I look forward to serving on the board with him.”

In 1990, Kearney joined Asbury's Crown Automotive Group as chief financial officer. In 2000, he assumed the role of president and CEO of Crown Automotive Group, and then president of Asbury's former Eastern Region (which included North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida) in 2008. Crown, which grew from 8 to 18 dealerships throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey and Virginia, merged with Asbury in 1998. Kearney played a key role in Asbury's public offering in 2002.

Kearney received his B.S. from the College of William and Mary, and an M.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University.

“I am honored to become a member of our Board of Directors,” said Kearney. “I look forward to serving in this new capacity and continuing my work with our dealership operations.”

About Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (“Asbury”), headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. Built through a combination of organic growth and a series of strategic acquisitions, Asbury currently operates 77 retail auto stores, encompassing 97 franchises for the sale and servicing of 28 different brands of America, European and Asian automobiles. Asbury offers customers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicle sales and related financing and insurance, vehicle maintenance and repair services, replacement parts and service contracts.