GM Hires Wells Fargo Exec to New Position of Chief Data Officer

General Motors Co. has hired A. Charles Thomas to the newly created position of chief data officer.

Thomas joined GM last week and reports to GM North America President Alan Batey. He most recently was chief data officer and head of enterprise data and analytics for scandal-plagued Wells Fargo Bank NA.

As chief data officer, Thomas is tasked with enhancing GM’s data science and analytics capabilities regarding customer, corporate and business information. CEO Mary Barra, who announced the appointment yesterday during conference call with analysts, says the carmaker is studying how it can better use data from its vehicles to aid customers and create a business-to-business revenue stream.