Catherine M. Gagnon, Cfa
About Catherine M. Gagnon, Cfa
Catherine M. Gagnon, CFA, serves as the Director of Vendor Risk at Eaton Vance, where she has worked for over twenty-two years in various roles related to financial reporting, operational risk, and vendor management. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Maine and a Master's degree in Finance from Northeastern University.
Current Role and Responsibilities
Catherine M. Gagnon serves as the Director of Vendor Risk at Eaton Vance, a position she has held since 2019. In this role, she manages the company's third-party risk program, which requires extensive collaboration with various departments, including Legal, Internal Controls, and Enterprise Risk Management. Gagnon is responsible for establishing governance models and continuously assessing and enhancing the vendor risk framework to adapt to changes within Eaton Vance's operational environment. Her work focuses on developing control strategies to mitigate third-party risk.
Professional Experience at Eaton Vance
Catherine Gagnon has over twenty-two years of progressive experience at Eaton Vance, where she has held multiple roles. She started as a Fund Accountant in 1998 and progressed through various positions, including Fund Administration Supervisor, Fund Operational Risk Senior Manager, and Fund Operational Risk Manager. Her tenure at Eaton Vance lasted from 1998 to 2014, and she returned in 2019 to take on her current role. Throughout her career at Eaton Vance, Gagnon has developed expertise in financial reporting, operational risk, and vendor management.
Previous Experience at First Data Corporation
Before her extensive career at Eaton Vance, Catherine Gagnon worked at First Data Corporation. She served as a Senior Fund Accountant for a brief period in 1998 and previously held the position of Fund Accountant from 1997 to 1998. Her experience at First Data Corporation contributed to her foundational knowledge in fund accounting and operational processes.
Educational Background
Catherine Gagnon has a strong educational background in political science and finance. She studied at Vanderbilt University, where she majored in Political Science and Government from 1992 to 1994. She later attended the University of Maine, earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Affairs with honors from 1994 to 1997. Gagnon also holds a Master of Science in Finance from Northeastern University, which she achieved with distinction from 2001 to 2004.
Expertise in Risk Management and Compliance
Catherine Gagnon possesses a solid understanding of internal controls, COSO, and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. This expertise is applied in her role to identify and design potential mitigating controls for vendor risk. Her experience in governance models and risk frameworks supports her ability to enhance Eaton Vance's operational resilience and compliance with regulatory standards.