Change in the consumer industry is unprecented, creating significant disruption. Digital natives will disrupt buying and shopping, while mandating greater corporate social responsibility.

Karen Benway

EY US-East Consumer Market Segment Leader

US-East Consumer leader. M&A professional. Passion for empowering teams to unlock value creation strategies for our clients. Wife and mother of two. Golfer. Boater. Dog lover.

Karen has been with Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) for over 25 years, with a specialization in the consumer industry. As the East Region Consumer Market Segment Leader, Karen oversees presence, services and support of US-East Consumer clients in the region across all service lines. Karen uses her industry experience to lead high-performing EY US professionals and teams, committed to bringing results-oriented industry solutions, insights and knowhow to their clients. 

In addition, Karen serves as a Partner in EY US’s Strategy and Transactions practice, advising on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and joint venture transactions for consumer products, retail and life sciences clients. Her expertise spans financial diligence execution to overall coordination of buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions.

Karen is proud to champion diversity and inclusiveness at EY US, and she describes her best asset as her passion for empowering others to achieve results.

Karen lives just outside of Washington DC and is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park. She is also a licensed CPA in both Virginia and Maryland. 

How Karen is building a better working world 

Karen is building a better working world by advocating for and developing a diverse slate of future leaders. She believes enabling and empowering others, while ensuring diversity across teams and leadership roles, is critical to developing and inspiring high performing professionals and teams. This will ultimately create valuable role models for aspiring future diverse leaders.

Contact Karen