Karen Higgins-Carter is an accomplished Chief Technology and Digital Officer serving on the boards of International Money Express Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S). Her career is distinguished by shaping and executing innovation, technology, AI, and cybersecurity strategies to position long-established global companies for a digital future.

As EVP and Chief Information and Digital Officer at Gilbane (2022-2024), Karen led the company’s inaugural technology and innovation strategy, anchored in external collaboration with venture capital, academia, and entrepreneurs. She defined value streams across regional business units to connect enterprise strategy to execution and implemented sector-leading AI solutions to enhance construction efficiency. As EVP and Chief Information Officer at Webster Financial Corporation (2018-2022), she guided the company through four years of technology modernization, improving operational efficiency and customer experience, and completed a merger of equals with Sterling Bancorp.

Karen maintains an active ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, a Digital Director’s Network Qualified Technology Expert (QTE) certification, and the NACD Directorship Certification (NACD.DC). Her leadership was recognized as a finalist for the Inspire CIO ORBIE Award in the global category, and she received an IDG CSO50 Award for business-aligned cybersecurity leadership. She graduated from Lafayette College with degrees in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and Economics and Business (BA). She earned an Executive Public Policy Certificate from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, focusing on cybersecurity and AI policy.