Karen J. Hartnett is a Human Resources executive with nearly 40 years of experience in banking and financial services, as well as retail and energy businesses. She has served on the Executive Management Committees of four regional banks, and she has helped take two companies public.

Ms. Hartnett began her career with Mobil Oil and Zale Corporation. Subsequently she guided the Human Resources function for RepublicBank in Dallas as it merged with Interfirst Bank, creating FirstRepublic Bank in what was then the largest merger to date. She also led FirstRepublic's HR team through its merger with NCNB (now Bank of America).

Ms. Hartnett joined the executive team at Bank United in Houston and helped orchestrate its IPO and eventual acquisition by WAMU. Her consulting work with Guaranty Bank in Dallas and Austin led to her assignment as Chief HR Officer in their spun-off from Temple-Inland Inc. and the eventual listing of Guaranty Financial Group (GFC) on the NYSE.

Ms. Hartnett earned her A.B. degree in Literature at Sweet Briar College, and she completed additional studies at the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia, in business and education. She serves on several non-profit organization's boards including the Houston Ballet Foundation and is a Lifetime Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.