Two BMO Executives Named WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners

• Catherine Roche, Head of Marketing and Strategy
• Claudette McGowan, Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience

TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - For the third consecutive year, two BMO Financial Group executives have been recognized as WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners. Catherine Roche, Head of Marketing and Strategy, and Claudette McGowan, Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, will be celebrated tonight at the Top 100 Summit and Awards Gala at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

As Head of Marketing and Strategy, Ms. Roche is accountable for setting the overall strategic direction and positioning for the enterprise and its operating groups. A published expert in consumer analytics, data and customer experience, Ms. Roche is responsible for: developing, communicating and overseeing the enterprise brand positioning; overseeing the bank's centres of expertise in digital marketing, customer data and insights; and setting our enterprise priorities around customer experience delivery.

Ms. Roche is a key member of the bank's Executive, Operating and Performance Committees. She also chairs the bank's Customer Experience Council and Art and Archives Committee, sits on the Corporate Donations Committee and sponsors BMO for Women, an initiative aimed at supporting women in business.

In addition, Ms. Roche is a member of the boards of directors of Futurpreneur Canada and Toronto Global.

Ms. McGowan is a leader within BMO and across the community. She is an innovator who is constantly looking for new ways to provide greater flexibility and deliver improved productivity to BMO's 45,000 employees. 

As the newly appointed CIO, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, Ms. McGowan's mandate has been expanded. Her senior executive appointment at BMO signalled industry progress. Her efforts extend not only to her career, but also to fellow IT professionals, with whom she works to foster technical literacy and inclusion.

She currently leads a team of information technology professionals in bringing new workplace solutions to office towers and branches around the world. In this role, Ms. McGowan provides a holistic view of the employee technology experience across the bank and works to create a new approach to how employees experience and adopt technology. Ms. McGowan is also the technical leader for BMO's Urban Campus in Toronto.

Ms. McGowan is an award-winning leader and author. Her passion for technology led to the creation of BMO's Women in Technology program, established to facilitate networking opportunities and resources for female technologists. Her achievements both inside and outside of the organization are many. Ms. McGowan founded the Black Arts and Innovation Expo (BAIE), dedicated to promoting and recognizing the exceptional achievements of diverse innovators in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Ms. McGowan was instrumental in creating an Innovation Centre in Aurora, ON a learning facility that specializes in robotics, 3D printers, virtual reality and software development training.

"Claudette and Catherine's courage, creativity and drive make them formidable forces," said Mona Malone, Chief Talent Officer, BMO Financial Group. "Claudette is a technology executive and innovator for BMO. She is a leader of diversity and mentor to many. Catherine is a member of BMO's senior management and executive committees. She is a driving force behind our customer-focused vision and a leader in customer loyalty. By their example, they inspire and empower peers, contemporaries and the industry to strive and work towards a culture of innovation, inclusion and excellence."

For more information about WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women, please visit https://www.wxnetwork.com/top-100-women/ and join the social conversation using #BMOforWomen.

About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $765 billion as of July 31, 2018, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

BMO Financial Group's Commitment to Diversity
Diversity and inclusion are core BMO values; drivers of sustainability that influence business strategy. BMO creates an environment where everyone is valued, respected and heard; where employees can bring their best selves to work – for the benefit of their co-workers, their communities and customers, and themselves. BMO has long been a supporter of women and a champion of diversity and inclusion; and as a result of sustained efforts, has seen strong progress against diversity and inclusion goals.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

Media Contacts: Kim Johnson, Toronto, [e-mail], 416-867-3996; Valérie Doucet, Montreal, [e-mail], 514-877-8224