Karen Conrad

SVP, Chief Information Officer

Professional Overview

Karen Conrad is an accomplished Information Technology executive with over 30 years of experience driving digital transformation and delivering strategic technology solutions across diverse industries. As the SVP and Chief Information Officer at Driven Brands Inc., she is responsible for overseeing the company's global information technology strategy, infrastructure, and operations, ensuring seamless technology integration to support the organization's rapid growth and business objectives.

Experience Summary

Current Role

As the SVP and Chief Information Officer at Driven Brands Inc., Karen is responsible for leading the company's information technology function, aligning IT initiatives with the overall business strategy. She oversees a team of IT professionals and manages a multi-million-dollar technology budget, driving efficiencies and innovation to enhance the customer experience and operational performance across Driven Brands' diverse portfolio of automotive aftermarket services.

Career Progression

Prior to her current role, Karen served as the Vice President of Corporate Systems at Driven Brands, where she was instrumental in modernizing the company's technology infrastructure and implementing cloud-based solutions to support its expanding franchise network. Before joining Driven Brands, she held various leadership positions at Siemens Energy, including Vice President of Global Head IT Portfolio Management and Senior IT Director of the Project Management Office (PMO), where she led large-scale IT integration projects and optimized technology systems to support the company's global operations.

Earlier in her career, Karen held IT management roles at Dresser-Rand - A Siemens Business, where she spearheaded the implementation of HRIS and legal/safety systems, and at Continental Airlines, where she served as the Managing Director of Information Technology, overseeing the airline's technology strategy and operations.

Academic Background

Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Houston, where she graduated with honors.

Areas of Expertise

Strategic IT leadership and digital transformation

Enterprise-wide technology infrastructure and operations management

Mergers and acquisitions integration and system consolidation

Cloud computing and SaaS implementation

IT project and portfolio management

Business process optimization and automation

Professional Impact

Under Karen's leadership, Driven Brands' IT function has been instrumental in driving the company's rapid growth through seamless technology integration, data-driven decision-making, and innovative digital solutions. She has played a pivotal role in streamlining IT operations, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and improving the customer experience across Driven Brands' portfolio of automotive service brands.

Conclusion

With her extensive experience, strategic mindset, and proven track record of transforming technology functions, Karen Conrad is a highly respected IT leader who continues to make a significant impact on the organizations she serves. As the SVP and Chief Information Officer at Driven Brands, she is poised to further strengthen the company's technological capabilities and support its ambitious plans for expansion and growth.