Zarkin Supports the Automotive Franchise’s Growth by Strengthening Customer Loyalty, Boosting National Visibility
Take 5 Oil Change, a car maintenance services franchise under the Driven Brands umbrella, has named Doug Zarkin chief marketing officer. Zarkin utilizes his 20-plus years of retail and brand marketing expertise to help strengthen the company’s brand story, deepen customer understanding and advance data-driven marketing. His background includes holding senior marketing positions at Grey Advertising, Avon Products, Limited Brands and, most recently, MPR Brands.
“Take 5 isn’t just a leader — it’s a category reimagination,” Zarkin said. “In a world where most oil changes are transactional and, frankly, tedious, Take 5 turns that moment into something fast, friendly and maybe even enjoyable. That’s rare air. I was brought in by the team at Driven Brands to help unlock what’s next, to evolve and grow the brand from being functionally famous to unforgettable. I didn’t come in with a rigid playbook, but a notebook — curious, open and ready to listen.”
Zarkin said he is focused on helping the automotive franchise grow responsibly. “This involves deepening the brand’s emotional relevance and improving how it shows up in people’s lives while staying unmistakably human in the process. Oil changes aren’t typically something people look forward to, but they are something we can make less of a chore and more of a moment. That’s the power of a great brand.”
Marketing is essential to Take 5 Oil Change’s growth, he said. “Marketing is how we translate operational excellence into emotional preference. It’s how we make a fast oil change feel more like a thoughtful service than a necessary evil. As we scale, marketing ensures we stay sharp, relevant and distinctive — never diluted. It’s also how we keep pressure on the brand value equation, refining the guest experience to the point where price becomes an afterthought.”
Mo Khalid, executive vice president and COO of Driven Brands, said Zarkin’s extensive marketing background makes him an asset to the leadership team. “Take 5 Oil Change is a compelling growth engine, fueled by a proven operating model, strong consumer demand and disciplined execution,” Khalid said.
Zarkin has earned multiple marketing and advertising honors throughout his career, including Entrepreneur’s Franchise CMO Game Changer Award and Brandweek’s Marketer of the Next Generation Award. He’s the author of “Moving Your Brand Out of The Friend Zone,” which details how to build meaningful customer relationships. When he’s off the clock, Zarkin enjoys spending time with his two children and playing tennis.
About Take 5 Oil Change
Founded in 1984, Take 5 Oil Change has expanded to 1,200 locations across North America. The automotive franchise famously pioneered the stay-in-your-car oil change and is known for completing the service in just 10 minutes on average, while also checking tire pressure and topping off vital fluids.
