Bridge Partners, described as an “inclusion-focused executive search firm”, has placed Helena Haynes-Carter in the role of Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at retail banking company, KeyBank.
In her new role, Haynes-Carter will lead efforts on creating “measurable strategies and tactics” to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across the business. This will include taking the helm of strategy and tactics to improve the acquisition, development and retention of diverse talent and suppliers.
Her appointment is a boon to the diversity of the financial services industry, where just 27% of C-level positions are held by women and a mere 4% of those by women of colour.
Haynes-Carter has dynamic multi-sector experience spanning the healthcare, financial services, energy, and public sector industries. Her most recent role was Senior Director, Global DEI for UnitedHealth Group, an American multinational managed healthcare and insurance company. She has also held roles at bank holding company US Bancorp, Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council, electric services company Xcel Energy, and Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.
In her new role at KeyBank, which is one of the largest bank-based financial services companies in the US with assets of $186.3 billion, Haynes-Carter will likely get the chance to make a big impact in improving organisational diversity and inclusion due to the size of the company as well as its impressive financial standing. Bridge Partners, the executive search firm that placed her in the KeyBank role is a minority-owned business with a diverse and multilingual team that focuses on working on “inclusive assignments.”
Tory Clarke, co-founder and partner, Bridge Partners said: “The rapidly evolving nature of the financial services industry demands an increased focus on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire spectrum of an organisation’s workforce, but especially at the executive leadership level.
“KeyBank is a prominent example of a leading financial services institution that has taken action on its commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable culture at the senior-most levels; the placement of Helena is proof of that long-term commitment.”
