Dawn Harp will lead Wells Fargo's expanded dealer services organization.

Dawn Harp will lead Wells Fargo's expanded dealer services organization.

SAN FRANCISCO — Wells Fargo & Co. announced this week it is separating its Consumer Lending Group’s Consumer Credit Solutions organization, which oversees all of the bank’s consumer credit and automotive lending activities, into two businesses with the expected retirement of Tom Wolfe, who served as head of CCS, on Oct. 31.

Leading the separate business units will be Dawn Martin Harp, who has led the bank’s indirect auto business since 2011, and Shelley Freeman, an 18-year veteran of Well Fargo. Harp will lead an expanded dealer services organization, which now includes commercial auto, strategic auto investments and the bank’s indirect auto finance business, while Freeman will serve as head of CCS. They will report to Avid Modjtabai, senior executive vice president and head of Wells Fargo’s Consumer Lending Group.

“Tom Wolfe built our market leadership position in auto lending and successfully integrated six consumer credit businesses and accelerated their growth,” Modjtabai said. “We will miss Tom, and we are grateful to have two dynamic leaders in Dawn and Shelley who share an unwavering commitment to customers and teams.”

Harp has more than 30 years of experience in automotive finance and technology and has been with Wells Fargo and its predecessor auto lending organizations for 16 years.

Prior to leading Well Fargo’s dealer services’ division, Harp served as the group’s COO and was previously the CIO and director of network computing with WFS Financial, which was acquired by Wachovia in 2006 before it merged with Wells Fargo in 2008. She also spent 10 years as system integration officer with American Savings Bank and managed corporate automation and retail banking projects. She also held management positions with Imperial Automation, On Line Computer Systems, and The Coding Factory. Harp currently serves as a board member of the Consumer Banking Association’s Auto Finance Committee and the American Financial Services Association’s Auto Finance Committee.

“Dawn is a terrific, strategic leader who has achieved significant results by successfully partnering with dealers across the country to deliver for consumers,” said Modjtabai. “We look forward to Dawn’s continued leadership of such an important business for Wells Fargo and the customers relying on us for their critical transportation needs.”

In her new role, Freeman will oversee a CCS portfolio that includes consumer financial services (including credit card, direct auto and personal lines and loans), education financial services, retail services, and the group’s collections and servicing, marketing, and strategy functions.

Freeman joined Wells Fargo in 1996. She most recently lead customer and store experience and affluent customer strategies for the company’s community bank operations, where she led an effort to enhance partnerships with Wells Fargo’s wealth, brokerage and retirement group. Freeman also has served as the community bank’s lead region president in Florida and region president in Los Angeles. She has also held numerous roles in the Internet services group and the wealth management group.

“The products that Shelley will oversee reflect some of the most significant moments in our customers’ lives, moments she takes to heart,” said Modjtabai. “Her business acumen, collaborative skills, passion for team members, and community involvement make her an ideal choice to lead CCS.”

The Wells Fargo Consumer Lending Group (CLG) was formed in 2011, combining eight separate lending businesses. Today, CLG is composed of consumer credit solutions, dealer services and home lending, employing approximately 60,000 team members who serve 22 million households.

0 Comments