Karen was Executive Managing Director, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Equities until December 2022. Karen was responsible for a portfolio of c. C$70bn of Direct Investing, Public Investing and GP Fund commitments, overseeing a team of 150 globally. During Karen’s tenure, the Equities division achieved record results and performance and expanded and grew the active investing and international diversification of the Equities portfolio.
Previously, Karen joined Barclays in 2012 as a Managing Director, where she was co-head of the Financial Sponsors Group (FSG) from 2012-2016. In 2016, Karen was appointed as CEO of Barclays Private Bank and Overseas Services business, a new business entity created from component businesses and activities related to Wealth Management and Services operating globally across multiple geographies (excluding US) and client types. She was a member of the Barclays Consumer Banking & Payments Executive Committee.
Karen started her career in private equity in 1992, working in Goldman Sachs’ Principal Investment Area in New York and London. She continued working in private equity with AEA Investors and Compass Partners International. In 2005, Karen was asked to join Goldman Sachs’ Investment Bank to build the firm’s middle market Financial Sponsors business.
She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School (honors) in 1997. She graduated from Georgetown University (summa cum laude) with a degree in Economics. Karen also serves as Chair of the Dean’s Council for the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and is on the Board of Trustees for the British Heart Foundation.
Karen has three sons, and lives in London with her husband. She enjoys martial arts and the arts.