Donna Ward

EVP - Chief Transformation Officer

Professional Overview
Donna Ward is an accomplished banking executive with over 15 years of experience driving strategic initiatives and operational excellence. As the EVP - Chief Transformation Officer at First Bank (FBNC), she is responsible for leading the organization's enterprise-wide digital transformation and process improvement efforts to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Experience Summary

Current Role
In her dual role as EVP - Chief Transformation Officer and EVP - Chief Operating Officer, Donna oversees the development and execution of First Bank's digital roadmap, spearheading the implementation of new technologies, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Under her leadership, the bank has achieved significant productivity gains, streamlined workflows, and improved customer satisfaction scores by 25% over the past two years.

Career Progression
Donna joined First Bank in 2014 as the SVP - Director of Project Management, where she led the successful delivery of several high-impact initiatives, including a core banking system upgrade and the implementation of a new customer relationship management (CRM) platform. Her exceptional project management skills and ability to align technology investments with business priorities contributed to her promotion to EVP - Chief Operating Officer in 2020, and her subsequent appointment as EVP - Chief Transformation Officer in 2024.

Academic Background
Donna holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated cum laude. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, with a concentration in Information Systems and Technology Management.

Areas of Expertise

• Digital transformation and process optimization

• Project management and change management

• Financial services technology and innovation

• Strategic planning and execution

• Data-driven decision-making and business intelligence

Professional Impact
Under Donna's leadership, First Bank has been recognized as a top regional bank for its use of technology to enhance the customer experience. She has been instrumental in driving the bank's adoption of artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, and cloud-based solutions, resulting in a 20% reduction in operational costs and a 15% increase in net promoter score over the past three years.

Conclusion
Donna Ward is a visionary leader with a proven track record of transforming banking operations through the strategic application of technology and a relentless focus on continuous improvement. As First Bank's EVP - Chief Transformation Officer, she is poised to further strengthen the organization's competitive position and deliver sustainable value for its customers, shareholders, and employees.