The FCS announces today that Caroline O’Connell, Chief Marketing Officer for BNY Mellon Investment Services, has been selected as recipient of the second annual FCS Jamie E. DePeau Leadership Award. The award will be presented at a gala dinner event on December 7, 2017 at Current, Chelsea Piers, in New York City, when the FCS also celebrates Ally Financial and Andrea Riley, Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer, as winners of the FCS Financial Marketer of the Year Award for 2017. State Street Global Advisors will also be honored as runner-up in that contest.
The FCS Jamie E. DePeau Leadership Award was created to recognize an FCS member whose leadership inspires and educates others to think big, break down barriers and perform at their highest potential. The goal is to honor, every year, FCS members who, through personal and professional contributions to their communities, serve as living examples of the selfless, inspirational leadership that Jamie DePeau embodied during her career in financial services marketing. Ms. DePeau, who passed away in 2016, was an active member of the FCS Marketing Leadership Roundtable, had served as a presenter at several FCS events, and was a stalwart supporter of the FCS and her team’s participation in the organization.
“The FCS is proud to recognize Caroline O’Connell for her leadership as a strategically driven CMO, who puts a priority on her company’s engagement with its employees, their communities and the industry,” said FCS CEO Kevin Windorf. “Having built BNY Mellon Pershing’s marketing function, Caroline is an advocate for the advancement of diversity in the workplace. And she’s also keenly focused on the importance of a company’s charitable efforts, whether it’s spearheading Pershing’s partnership with Big Brothers & Big Sisters or developing a philanthropic strategy for Pershing’s annual INSITE conference. Caroline is praised by her team for her creative, passionate but humble leadership.”
“I am truly honored to be the recipient of this year’s award, and to be thought of as embodying the values and attributes that Jamie DePeau shared with those who knew her,” said Ms. O’Connell, “however, none of my success and accomplishments would have been possible without all of the great team members I work with, and for that, I thank them and share this recognition with them as well.”
Ms. O’Connell was nominated by members of her marketing team. She was selected by a panel of five judges, who represent several facets of Jamie DePeau’s personal and professional life. The judging panel included:
- Berta Aldrich, winner of FCS Jamie E. DePeau Leadership Award 2016
- Jill Bodian, Brand Strategy Consultant
- Elena French, VP, Internal Communications, Lincoln Financial
- Tom Jago, Managing Director, The Ward Group
- Kevin Windorf, CEO, FCS
Within the BNY Mellon enterprise, Ms. O’Connell’s leadership roles have included serving as the executive sponsor of Pershing's collaboration with the Big Brothers & Big Sisters program of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties in New Jersey and serving as a member of the chapter’s Think Big Society; serving as the founding co-chair of Pershing's Diversity Advisory Board; as a founding executive committee member of BNY Mellon's Women's Initiative Network (WIN); and as member of the BNY Mellon Global Diversity and Inclusion Council Operating Committee and co-chair of the Talent Development Sub-Committee.
Outside of the BNY Mellon enterprise, Ms. O’Connell also serves on the Board of Trustees and the Curriculum Committee for the Securities Industry Institute® (SII) at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; on the Board of Directors of the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) and member of its Advisor Engagement Sub-Committee; as a member of the Women’s Forum of New York and former chair of the Communications Committee; and as a founding member of the Outthinker Chief Strategy Officer Roundtable.
Ms. O’Connell is a dedicated wife and mother of three who spends her leisure time committed to community-related volunteer activities and supporting her children’s academic interests and sports participation. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, she also shares her time counseling others on how to face their fight with cancer.
The FCS Financial Marketer of the Year Gala Dinner & Holiday Party will be held on December 7th (6pm-11pm) at Current at Chelsea Piers in New York City. For table reservations, ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.theFCS.org.
About Jamie E. DePeau
Jamie DePeau, Corporate Chief Marketing Officer, Lincoln Financial Group, was a true friend of the FCS and very supportive of our mission of community, education and philanthropy. She was an active member in the FCS Marketing Leadership Roundtable since its founding in 2012. That year, she participated in our Annual Education Summit, serving on a panel with fellow CMOs. In 2013, she served as one of our guest presenters at the 19th Annual FCS Portfolio Awards. When she was SVP, Marketing at TIAA-CREF, she presented at our monthly luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in December of 2007.
Ms. DePeau passed away in February of 2016. In April of this year, her work at Lincoln was recognized posthumously as her marketing team and their agency won seven trophies at the 22nd Annual FCS Portfolio Awards Gala. In addition to her own participation, Ms. DePeau encouraged her Lincoln colleagues to get involved with the FCS.
Outside of work, Ms. DePeau was very active at her community church, where she held senior roles in the parish’s lay leadership, as well as performing in its choir. She was a volunteer for the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association and for other Ridgewood youth sports groups.
In addition to her roles as mother and wife, boss and colleague, Ms. DePeau is remembered as a mentor and friend, and always a leader.
