Kate Ward

Kate is our SVP & Chief Business Officer. Kate oversees and provides strategic leadership to the membership sales and engagement department, finance department, marketing and communications department, and fundraising and sponsorship teams. Kate works closely with Brendon Cull, President & CEO, to lead the Chamber’s strategic planning process focused on growing the region’s economy, population, and cultural vibrancy.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Kate had a twenty-year career with Kroger in rising roles with audit, finance, investor relations, and Kroger Personal Finance (KPF). KPF encompasses several business lines – payment cards, gift cards, lottery, telecom, financial services and money services. KPF is one of Kroger’s largest and most successful business units, and as President, Kate led the marketing, operations, sales, and strategy for the division.

Kate was recognized as the “Best IR Professional” in the Food Retail Industry by Institutional Investor in 2017. In 2018, Kate was named one of the “Top Women in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer and one of 10 “Women Who Mean Business” by the Cincinnati Business Courier. In 2020, she participated in Leadership Cincinnati Class 44.

Kate graduated from Xavier University with a degree in Finance. She also obtained a Master of Business Administration from Miami University.

She volunteers her time with the United Way, preparing income taxes for low-income individuals. She serves as treasurer on the board of directors for EPIC House (Elderly Persons in Community). She also serves on the board of executive advisors for Xavier University’s finance department and Miami FSB steering committee for the MBA program. Kate and her husband, Tom, have two children, a lively hound named Phoebe, and reside in Montgomery.