Published on June 3, 2020

Below is the message I shared with KeyBank teammates.

Team,

As a student of history, I have wondered how the future will reflect back on the times we are in now. That said, the last few days and weeks have made me realize that now is the time for action, not just reflection. Einstein famously said, “If I were to remain silent, I would be guilty of complicity.”

The names George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery - and too many others - should be remembered as innocent lives lost. Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families. History is watching all of us and what we choose to say and do now will determine whether we move our country forward to live up to the ideals we imagine for ourselves. 

Until all of us live in peace, safety and equity, none of us can. Across our country we are hearing leaders speak out against the injustice we see all too often in our society. We see citizens standing up to demand change and advocating for an end to injustice and inequity. At Key, we can - and will - be part of that discourse and that change.

To our Black colleagues, I won’t pretend to fully understand the emotion and frustration engendered by recent events. Nor can I imagine the impact that living with a sense of fear and oppression has on you, your families and your friends. I don’t know what it is like to have “the conversation” with your sons and daughters and I don’t know how it feels to live with perpetual anxiety just because you are black. But I want you to know that I am your ally and that I am here to listen and respond to your concerns and to lend my voice to the call for justice and equality.

To that end, Key has a tradition and a legacy that will serve as a strong foundation for us. Every one of us is proud of the diverse and inclusive culture we’ve built. We work every day and in every way to cultivate and curate a workplace where equality and respect are not an aspiration, but an expectation. 

I am proud of the way we come together each day to help our teammates and our neighbors feel valued and respected. That’s because we take our purpose to heart and in doing so, focus our collective efforts on helping our clients and communities thrive. But going forward, each of us has a role to play in using our voice to demand a just and equitable experience for every citizen. Together, we can all be part of the change we need to see.  

Chris