Karen Hale

CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER,

NOVARTIS INTERNATIONAL AG

Karen Hale is the Chief Legal Officer of Novartis. As a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis, she reports directly to the CEO.

In this position, she leads the Legal, Public Affairs, and Global Security functions at Novartis which support the company’s purpose of reimagining medicine while ensuring high standards of ethics and business conduct to reinforce trust with society.

Karen joined Novartis in May 2021, bringing more than 20 years of experience in resolving legal and compliance issues in the global pharmaceutical industry.

Currently, Karen leads an international team of ~1000 legal, security, and public affairs professionals, in over 90 countries, and is transforming her organization to provide the best and most sustainable support for the Enterprise.

Prior to joining Novartis, she held a succession of senior roles at AbbVie including Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer.

Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, Karen was an associate attorney with the law firm Sidley & Austin in Chicago, Illinois. She gained a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University and a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William and Mary.

Damien Harmon

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, OMNICHANNEL OPERATIONS AND SERVICES, BEST BUY CO. INC.

Damien Harmon is the executive vice president of omnichannel operations and services for Best Buy Co. Inc. He is a passionate, experienced, and driven executive with nearly two decades of global and domestic leadership experience. Across his many roles, Damien has developed and led high-performing teams that have produced results and positive change for employees, customers, and shareholders. His teams have achieved their goals through an unrelenting focus on purposeful leadership and a commitment to inclusion designed to drive both professional and personal growth.

Damien is responsible for the entirety of Best Buy’s operations. This includes the strategic development and management of the operations strategy that enables the company’s ability to create seamless, engaging experiences in its stores, online and in homes tens of millions of times each year. Damien thrives in transformative spaces, pushing the business and his teams to take decisive actions that impact the most critical company and employee needs of the day, while keeping an eye on long-term goals. He believes the best leaders are teachers and people have a responsibility to teach others how to unlock their true potential.

Previously, Damien served as the company’s president of omnichannel and services. He first joined Best Buy as a general manager in 2005 and held various leadership positions in store operations, international operations and store leadership, including vice president of retail operations and services. Before rejoining Best Buy in 2019, Damien spent four years at Bridgestone Americas Inc., where he served as president of GCR Tires and chief operating officer at Bridgestone Tires.

Damien is currently the executive sponsor of the Black Employee Resource Group at Best Buy and serves on the company’s Foundation board. The Foundation is focused on expanding its impact on youth from disinvested communities with a goal of launching 100 Best Buy Teen Tech Centers in the coming years. Additionally, Damien serves on Petco’s Foundation Board that is focused on creating a better world for animals and the people who love and need them.