Karen S. Kirwan
Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Karen Kirwan brings extensive Information Technology leadership and experience to G&K with a 25 year career holding key positions across many different industries. She has a proven track record for helping businesses get results by connecting the dots between strategy, profitability and the customer. Kirwan has helped companies build and execute initiatives ranging from delighting the customer…to reducing cycle times to market, ensuring quality, and creating innovative products and services -- all focused on meeting corporate profitability goals. She has successfully built and transformed IT organizations, developed enterprise-wide IT strategies, delivered new products and services, reduced costs, and integrated large scale acquisitions. Kirwan is responsible for leading all aspects of Information Technology at G&K.

Kirwan was most recently president & CEO of North Shore Consulting, a management consulting practice focused on IT strategic development, business transformation, enterprise solutions, and portfolio management. Prior to that, she was SVP and CIO at Alliant Techsystems, a $4.7 billion manufacturer of aerospace and defense systems. In this role, she had responsibility for all aspects of Information Technology and for devising an IT strategy that would promote rapid acquisition assimilation while growing market share. Prior to Alliant Techsystems, Kirwan was EVP & CIO at United States Cellular Corporation, a $4.2 billion wireless telecommunications company. While at United States Cellular Corporation, she penetrated 12 new markets and increased revenue $125 million by targeting and launching a new wireless data services product platform. Kirwan has successfully implemented complex ERP programs including SAP, PeopleSoft, and Oracle. She has created state-of-the-art customer relationship management systems and mastered high transaction billing environments.

Kirwan earned a bachelor's of science degree in management information systems with a minor in accounting from Central Michigan University, and participated in the master's degree program at Madonna University focused on International Business.

In community service, she participates in research with the University of Minnesota and also supports I.C. Stars; a youth program in Chicago designed to prepare young adults for careers in the field of Information Technology.