Clark Harold Ibrahim Khayat
Summary
Clark Harold Ibrahim Khayat has been KeyCorp’s Chief Financial Officer since May 2023, following senior roles in corporate strategy, finance, payments and business development at Key and other financial-services companies.
Biography
Khayat became KeyCorp’s Chief Financial Officer in May 2023. Before taking the CFO role, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, treasury, financial planning and analysis, business-unit finance and investor relations. ([key.com](https://www.key.com/about/company-information/leadership/khayat-bio.html?utm_source=openai)) Earlier at Key, Khayat led the Enterprise Commercial Payments business and previously headed Corporate Strategy. Before joining or serving in senior roles at Key, he worked at Progressive Corporation, where he was Senior Controller of Personal Lines and participated in corporate development, capital management and investor-relations activities. He also held strategy and finance leadership roles at National City Corporation, now part of PNC, and worked as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. ([key.com](https://www.key.com/about/company-information/leadership/khayat-bio.html?utm_source=openai)) Khayat holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He has also taught as an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University and served on boards or advisory bodies connected with payments, financial technology and financial-services organizations. ([key.com](https://www.key.com/about/company-information/leadership/khayat-bio.html?utm_source=openai))
Notable achievements
- Managed finance and strategy responsibilities covering treasury, planning and analysis, business-unit finance, investor relations and strategic investments before becoming CFO. ([key.com](https://www.key.com/about/company-information/leadership/khayat-bio.html?utm_source=openai))
- Led Key’s Enterprise Commercial Payments business while redesigning and implementing a new strategic direction for the unit. ([key.com](https://www.key.com/about/company-information/leadership/khayat-bio.html?utm_source=openai))
- Supported KeyCorp’s approximately $2.8 billion Scotiabank strategic investment and related capital and balance-sheet actions. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/91576/000119312524198310/d876079dex991.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Key’s 2025 proxy credited Khayat with supporting record revenue, expense discipline, strong operating leverage, improved controls and expanded investor outreach. ([d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net](https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000091576/fa4aa28a-a08f-4324-8cc5-e9200aeeb4de.html?utm_source=openai))
- Assumed oversight of Key Technology and Operations Services in 2026 in addition to his CFO responsibilities, following the resignation of the company’s chief information officer. ([key.com](https://www.key.com/about/company-information/leadership/khayat-bio.html?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- The CFO role became more challenging after the 2023 regional-bank turmoil, as Key had to manage funding costs, liquidity, capital levels and unrealized losses in its securities portfolio.
- Khayat helped execute the 2024 Scotiabank capital transaction, which strengthened Key’s capital position but also involved balance-sheet repositioning and dilution for existing shareholders. ([breakingviews.com](https://www.breakingviews.com/considered-view/cross-border-bank-deal-takes-leap-of-faith/?utm_source=openai))
- Key’s 2024 performance and restructuring actions included headcount reductions and costly balance-sheet repositioning before the company reported improved revenue and renewed hiring in 2025. ([bizjournals.com](https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2025/07/22/keybank-earnings-hiring-scotiabank-balance-sheet.html?utm_source=openai))
- No major personal regulatory or ethical controversy involving Khayat was identified in the reviewed public filings and reputable news sources.