Kara West

Kara West is the Chief Enterprise Risk Officer for Capital One and a member of the company's Executive Committee, reporting directly to the CEO and Board. As part of the company’s dual-Chief Risk Officer Model, Kara is responsible for enterprise, compliance, operational, and technology risk management as well as the aggregated view of risks across Capital One. Capital One is a leading technology-based financial services company serving more than 100 million customers across a diverse set of businesses.

Prior to her current role, Kara was the Chief Audit Officer and a member of the Executive Committee. As Chief Auditor, Kara led Audit in providing independent assurance and challenge to the business. She was responsible for developing Capital One’s audit strategy and plan, and ensuring the company maintains an effective control environment on behalf of the Board of Directors.

Throughout Kara’s tenure at Capital One, she has played key risk management roles across the enterprise serving as the Card Chief Risk Officer, Retail and Direct Bank Chief Risk Officer, and as the Managing Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management, where she was responsible for enterprise-wide risk programs and the associated processes and tools. While in Card, Kara also actively helped shape the organization’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) agenda as the co-Accountable Executive.

Prior to joining Capital One in April 2013, Kara held various second and third line risk management roles at Freddie Mac, was the Chief Auditor at Sallie Mae, and served as a financial services consultant.

Kara holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Virginia and Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Risk Management Assurance licenses.