BMO Financial Group appointed Kimberley Goode to the role of chief communications and social impact officer. She will join the bank in August and report to Cameron Fowler, chief strategy and operations officer for BMO.

Goode will lead a new team combining the communications practice areas of employee communications, media relations and government relations with the purpose and community giving teams, creating a single organization unified in its focus on achieving the bank’s strategic priorities and purpose.

“Kimberley brings to BMO an exceptional skill set and reputation as a seasoned communications executive,” Fowler said. “Beyond her impressive resume, she is being appointed to this role because of specific attributes she has consistently modelled throughout her career. She is a values-based, strategic and purpose-led leader. She has successfully led transformations focused on driving business results through integrated communications encompassing reputation management, brand building, corporate social responsibility, culture and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is also a strong believer in the use of data to drive, measure and adapt to maximize impact.”

“BMO is a purpose-driven and future-focused company that knows its growth helps fuel a more inclusive and growing economy and a sustainable future. I am delighted to join BMO to lead the bank’s efforts to share its story with its stakeholders,” Goode said. “I look forward to working with Cam and all my new colleagues to help the bank achieve its ambition.”

Trained as a journalist, Goode has progressed to lead communications and public affairs organizations across various regulated industries, including financial services, consumer goods, technology, automotive and healthcare. Most recently, she held the position of senior vice-president of external affairs at Blue Shield of California, based in the San Francisco Bay area. Prior to that, she spent nine years with Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee, where she integrated its communications functions and helped to reposition the company from an insurance provider to a holistic financial services provider.