Gautam Puranik

Gautam Puranik brings over 20 years of expertise in credit, data analytics, AI, marketing, customer experience, and digital transformation.

Gautam was VP of Marketing & Analytics at CarMax, later becoming Head of Business Strategy & Analytics and the company’s first Chief Data Officer. He advanced marketing strategies, launched digital initiatives like online financing, and led a data-driven omnichannel transformation. As CDO, he shaped strategy across multiple functions and oversaw data science, governance, and AI.

Prior to CarMax, Gautam was VP of Marketing Strategy & Customer Experience (CMO for card business) at Capital One, where he led marketing efforts for the card business and drove significant growth. He also created digital capabilities and led a shift towards a product-driven approach. A former data scientist, Gautam rose to executive leadership, using data science for strategic decision-making. His dual accreditation as a Credit Officer and Model Risk Officer reflects his expertise in applying data science to business.

Now a Managing Partner at Arica, Gautam focuses on helping companies navigate data-driven growth and transformation.