Margot James Copeland, Director Of Philanthropy And Civic Engagement At KeyBank, To Retire In 2019

Elizabeth Gurney Named To Lead KeyBank Foundation

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Feb 28, 2019, 10:00 ET

CLEVELAND, Feb. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- After a career spanning nearly 20 years with KeyBank, Margot James Copeland, Director of Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, has announced her intention to retire in June, 2019. Copeland, in her role as Chair & CEO of the KeyBank Foundation, has had a transformational impact on communities from Maine to Alaska as she guided Key's strategic philanthropic investments.

Margot James Copeland, Director of Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, KeyBank

"Margot Copeland is a one-of-a-kind community leader and advocate," said Beth Mooney, Chairman and CEO, KeyCorp. "She has been the cornerstone of KeyBank's philanthropy efforts and her enthusiasm for supporting investment in all neighborhoods has made Key a better and stronger community partner. We will certainly miss Margot's dedication to helping others and wish her the best as she writes the next chapter of her life."

In her role, Copeland has guided KeyBank's strategic philanthropic investments in education, neighborhood prosperity, workforce development and community service. Copeland's leadership has led to KeyBank's appearance on the Points of Light Foundation's annual "Civic 50" list as one of America's fifty most community-minded companies. KeyBank has appeared on the list five consecutive times from 2013 to 2018. KeyBank ranked as the #1 financial services company on the "Civic 50" in 2014, 2017 and 2018. Copeland also served as KeyBank's Chief Diversity Officer from 2001-2012. During that time Key garnered multiple awards for diversity and inclusion, including recognition as a DiversityInc. Top 50 Company.

Often recognized for her broad circle of influence and civic footprint in Cleveland and across the country, Copeland has been actively engaged in a number of communities, serving as trustee of Kent State University, (chairing the Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee), the Cleveland Clinic (Vice Chair, Government and Community Affairs Committee), Say Yes to Education, the Thomas White Foundation and the Kenneth Scott Foundation. Copeland is the 15th National President of The Links, Incorporated, and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council.

KeyBank also announced that Elizabeth Gurney, Executive Director of the First Niagara Foundation since 2011, has been named to also lead the KeyBank Foundation. Following the acquisition of First Niagara Bank by KeyBank in 2016, the First Niagara Foundation became an independent private foundation working collaboratively with KeyBank to support programs that will provide long term enhancements to the quality of life primarily in Western New York. Based in Buffalo, NY, Gurney will oversee both foundations.

Prior to this role, Gurney served in fundraising and leadership roles for a number of organizations in the Buffalo area, including the Nichols School, Children's Hospital and the Hospice Foundation of Western New York. Gurney actively works to make a positive impact on the community by serving in a leadership position on several boards including the Children's Foundation, the Josephine Goodyear Foundation and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation.

"Elizabeth is a proven foundation leader who has had a positive impact on Western New York for more than 35 years. We are thrilled that she will step in to lead the KeyBank Foundation. I look forward to Elizabeth and Margot working together over the next several months for a smooth transition," said Don Graves, KeyBank's Head of Corporate Responsibility.

About KeyBank
KeyCorp's (NYSE: KEY) roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $139.6 billion at December 31, 2018. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,100 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

SOURCE KeyCorp