Just before 2020 closed, DealerSocket announced the appointment of Byron McDuffee as chief operating officer, although the company said he officially joined DealerSocket from Equifax in November.

The software provider said the 22-year automotive industry veteran will oversee DealerSocket’s operations, customer success and support, corporate development, strategy, vendor management and analytics teams.

“Byron is an accomplished auto industry leader, and we are excited to welcome him to DealerSocket and our executive team,” DealerSocket chief executive officer Sejal Pietrzak said in a news release.

“Byron has strong experience in leading global teams, creating successful growth strategies, optimizing processes and driving analytics,” Pietrzak continued. “He has a dealer-first customer service approach and a keen focus on building a strong company culture and positive employee engagement, all of which aligns with DealerSocket’s priorities.

“I am thrilled that he has joined us, and he is already making a significant positive impact to our company,” she added.

McDuffee previously served as senior vice president and general manager of automotive services at Equifax, where he led and managed all aspects of the automotive business.

McDuffee also served in a variety of leadership roles at CDK Global, including general management responsibilities and as the head of the company’s global strategy and corporate ventures group.

“I’m excited to join DealerSocket, an organization whose goals are so closely aligned with my experience and passion for this great industry,” McDuffee said. “DealerSocket has made significant strides in helping dealers leverage data and product innovation to define the customer journey, increase buyer satisfaction, and maximize dealership profit potential.

“The acquisition of Auto/Mate elevates the company’s market position even more, giving dealers a much-needed new choice in the full platform-provider space,” he went on to say.

McDuffee will relocate from Illinois to DealerSocket’s Dallas headquarters in 2021, according to the company.