Bob Kirstiuk Email Address

Chairman Emeritus

Advantage DataSystems Corporation is an automotive company that specializes in OEM trade parts and auto repair industry.

Bio:Bob Kirstiuk Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. University British Columbia: Commerce Degree 1986. Founder and CEO First Parts Group / Advantage Parts Solutions (1988 – present) •Sold First Part Group to Carstation.com in 1999 •Re-Acquired First Parts Group back from CarStation.com in 2001 •Rebranded business to Advantage Parts Solutions (OE Parts Marketing Services) •Currently representing over 3,000 OEM parts suppliers throughout Canada, United States and the United Kingdom Bob founded First Parts Group with partner, Tim Scharnberg, in 1988, which has evolved to the international business they own today, Advantage Parts Solutions. One interesting chapter in the business, is they sold it in 1999 to a well-financed internet startup in San Francisco. They raised $70 Million with the objective to create a global on-line trading platform for the automotive aftermarket. Shortly after completing their financing the internet market crashed and the expected IPO was not possible. They were however successful in reacquiring the original parts marketing business shortly thereafter in 2001. Today they have operations throughout Canada, the United States and the UK and represent over 3,000 OEM parts suppliers. The business provides sales and marketing services to vehicle manufacturers and their dealer networks related to the sales of Original Equipment automotive parts. In Canada and the UK they manage buying groups for a number of national MSO’s and also work with some of the largest insurers to support their procurement platforms.