As artificial intelligence becomes central to business strategy, companies are placing greater emphasis on how data is managed and transformed into actionable insights.
Meta has taken another step in that direction by appointing Alex Schultz as its first Chief Data Officer (CDO). The long-time executive previously served as the company’s Chief Marketing Officer and will now lead Meta’s global data and AI analytics strategy.
At the same time, Meta promoted Denise Moreno, formerly Vice President of Consumer Marketing and Growth, to Chief Marketing Officer, completing a leadership transition that aligns the company’s marketing and data functions with its expanding AI ambitions.
A New Executive Role for the AI Era
Schultz said his new role will focus on helping Meta improve how it learns from data and makes decisions as artificial intelligence becomes more deeply integrated across the business.
The creation of the Chief Data Officer position reflects Meta’s growing recognition that AI models depend not only on computing power but also on high-quality data, analytics, and governance.
Rather than treating analytics as a supporting function, Meta is elevating data leadership to the executive level as AI becomes a core part of product development and business operations.
A Long-Time Meta Leader
Schultz joined Meta in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades helping shape the company’s growth.
Throughout his career, he has led initiatives spanning marketing, growth, brand strategy, and privacy campaigns, including work supporting WhatsApp and Meta’s broader corporate brand.
His experience across multiple business functions positions him to connect data, analytics, and AI with strategic decision-making throughout the organization.
Denise Moreno Steps Into the CMO Role
Meta also named Denise Moreno as its new Chief Marketing Officer.
A 17-year company veteran, Moreno has held several leadership positions focused on consumer marketing and business growth. More recently, she played a key role in expanding products such as Threads and Meta’s AI-powered consumer experiences before taking on the CMO position.
Leadership Changes Support Meta’s AI Expansion
The appointments come as Meta continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence.
The company is expected to spend as much as $145 billion on AI infrastructure this year as it expands data centers, computing capacity, and next-generation AI services. The investment supports Meta’s long-term strategy to compete aggressively in generative AI while improving internal decision-making through advanced analytics.
Recent reports have also indicated that Meta is exploring a cloud business that could allow enterprises to access excess AI computing capacity, further expanding its role in the enterprise AI ecosystem.
Positioning Data at the Center of AI
As AI becomes increasingly embedded across Meta’s products and operations, the company is placing data management alongside infrastructure as a strategic priority.
By creating its first Chief Data Officer role and promoting experienced leaders internally, Meta is reinforcing the importance of data-driven decision-making as it scales AI across its global business.
The move highlights how leading technology companies are reshaping executive leadership structures to support the next phase of AI innovation.