Karen Higgins-Carter
Chief Information and Digital Officer
Karen Higgins-Carter is executive vice president and chief information and digital officer for Gilbane Building Company. In this role, Karen is responsible for leading and implementing the company’s innovation, technology, data, digital, and cybersecurity strategy and serves as a member of the Company’s Executive Committee.
With more than 25 years of progressive experience in diverse industries, Karen has a proven record of leading large transformation efforts, building talented, high-performing teams, and delivering business solutions in partnership with her clients.
Before joining Gilbane, Karen was chief information officer at Webster Financial Corporation. She expanded digital customer acquisition, onboarding, and servicing capabilities; launched a data cloud; and enhanced responsiveness with a transition to a scaled agile operating model. Her leadership included creating a business-focused cybersecurity strategy recognized with an IDG CSO50 Award in 2020.
Karen earned a dual degree in mechanical engineering and economics and business at Lafayette College. She has also completed executive education programs at MIT Sloan in Corporate Innovation, Blockchain Technologies and Harvard University in Cybersecurity: The Intersection of Policy and Technology, and Leading in Artificial Intelligence. She maintains an active Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP) credential.
She currently serves on the board of directors for International Money Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI) as well as Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S). Karen was named executive vice president in 2022.