No. 6: Amy Brady, KeyCorp

Amy Brady
Chief Information Officer, Technology and Operations Executive, KeyCorp

Amy Brady's work at KeyCorp has gone a long way toward transforming the Cleveland company.

Since joining KeyCorp from Bank of America in 2012, Brady and her team have more than doubled mobile traffic, playing a key role in reshaping customer trends by enhancing online bill pay and launching a new tablet application. Ongoing efforts both internally and with outside vendors have led to improvements in how Key complies with the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering laws. Cybersecurity, another major part of the technology budget, exceeded $600 million this year.

When modernizing Key's digital channels, Brady's team decided against the typical industry practice of replacing the company's core banking system. Instead, Key kept the existing system and worked with outside providers to update the framework built around that system. As a result, Key claims that it can introduce products quicker than most competitors, and with less risk.

A large number of corporate pilot programs are run with Brady's oversight, including testing of a new customer relationship management application. That program, piloted with 20 of Key's corporate banking clients, received enough favorable feedback to justify a full launch later this year.

A member of KeyCorp's executive committee and board, Brady works closely with Chief Executive Beth Mooney to improve efficiency and profitability at the $95 billion-asset company. Notably, her group saved 9% from its annual budget last year, while also overseeing the successful conversion of 50,000 HSBC accounts that Key recently acquired.