Yushan Liu has been appointed director of data science in the data and analytics department of Black Book, effective Sept. 1. In this role, Liu will be responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and roadmap for data science initiatives, while leading and expanding the data science team.

Liu joined Black Book in March 2018 as a data scientist. She holds a Ph.D. in chemometrics and analytical chemistry from the University of Delaware. Prior to starting at Black Book, she did not have experience in automotive, but quickly became an expert on Black Book data. During her tenure at Black Book, she is credited with combining NLP technology with vehicle domain knowledge to automatically detect add/deducts from millions of retail listings, enhancing the company’s history valuations, and automating the process of generating new car option relationships.

“Liu’s passion for data, commitment to solving complex problems, and empathy for her colleagues make her the clear choice to elevate Black Book’s data science,” said Laura Wehunt, VP of analytics. “During my time working with Yushan, I have witnessed her transformation from a top individual contributor to a leader ready to guide us into the future.”