James Waters believes in a leadership style grounded in integrity, excellence, and collaboration. James, who holds the position of General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at KeyCorp, is the company’s senior legal officer and a member of Key’s Executive Leadership Team. Throughout his career, James has fostered a positive and supportive work environment where each team member can succeed based on the quality of their effort and output and can chart their professional course.

With an extensive background in corporate law, James brings more than two decades of experience, primarily focused on finance and international transactions. Prior to his current role at KeyCorp, he served as Group Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Frost Bank and Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. James joined KeyBank in July 2021. His decision to join KeyBank was driven by several factors. “One of the principal attractions was the bank’s extensive coast-to-coast footprint, stretching from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine, and from Anchorage, Alaska to Albany, New York,” says James. “The broad reach of the franchise, along with its diverse range of products and services, captured my interest.”

Having previously worked at an institution with a strong emphasis on values, James found KeyBank’s values-focused orientation and its leadership’s commitment to the company’s stakeholders – clients, colleagues, communities, and shareholders alike – to be resonant with his own principles: “I appreciated the bank’s commitment to actively engage with and support the communities where it operates, reflecting a sense of social responsibility and community involvement,” he says.

Law Around the World

James spent his undergraduate years at Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and Comparative Politics (concentration in Latin American Studies). Subsequently, he obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School, and has been admitted to the bar in both Texas and New York. He began his legal career as an associate at Shearman & Sterling LLP in that firm’s New York office. He became a partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP in Dallas.

James has lived abroad, including in Paris, France, has spent considerable time in Latin America, including Mexico and Argentina, and has traveled extensively for business and pleasure. During his career, he represented clients in the United States, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Mexico, Panama, Peru, St. Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom, among other jurisdictions.

Leadership Anchored in Integrity

The principles of agency, action, and accountability lie at the heart of James’ approach to leadership of his teams. By “agency,” James seeks to empower teammates to perform at the highest levels of professional output and to shape their careers – based on talent, expertise, and effort. “Action” reflects James’s bias for action, with the expectation that teammates will produce actionable answers and will design and deliver actionable solutions. By “accountability,” he expects that everyone will take responsibility for their efforts and the resulting outcomes. James would add a parallel principle of “access,” with reference to his own commitment to making himself available for teammates and providing guidance or direction concerning goals and objectives.

James also places importance on maintaining regular communication and collaboration with members of his leadership team. He ensures that they receive the necessary support and guidance by scheduling monthly individual one-on-one meetings and making himself available as needed. Additionally, James holds monthly meetings with his entire leadership team to collectively identify and discuss opportunities for process and performance improvement. This collaborative approach enables them to address individual and team-related challenges effectively. Finally, Key Legal, the department James leads, holds bimonthly meetings as a whole team. These gatherings serve as a platform to foster a shared vision and understanding of the company and departmental goals and objectives.

A Talent-Centric Approach

In recent years, talent management, especially talent acquisition and retention, has been a notable challenge for many individuals in the CLO/GC role. James takes pride in having cultivated a strong and diverse group of legal professionals on his team, ranging from junior practitioners with three years of experience to highly seasoned experts with more than 35 years of experience.

James believes in hiring smart, motivated, and performance-oriented individuals, providing guidance and clear goals, and allowing them to excel. James trusts that talented professionals, performing at their best with consistency, naturally achieve excellence. He recognizes that excellence doesn’t mean perfection, leaving room for grace and growth within the team. This approach shapes and supports an environment where team members thrive, contributing to Key Legal’s success. By granting autonomy and fostering a culture of individual growth, James encourages his team to excel based on their unique strengths.

In addition, James is a dedicated advocate of training and development. He actively supports and encourages his team members to pursue opportunities for professional growth within the legal function, the company, or even in the broader market. He believes in the importance of attending conferences and forums to deepen subject matter expertise and encourages participation as speakers, panelists, or writers to showcase their knowledge.

Through his commitment to talent management, training, and development, James ensures that his legal team remains well-equipped to meet challenges and excel in their roles. This dedication to nurturing and retaining talent contributes to the continued success of Key Legal and the organization.

Commitment to Professional Excellence and Personal Fulfillment

James approaches both his personal and professional roles with a profound sense of responsibility and purposefulness. At work, he is committed to performing his duties with purpose, diligence, and excellence by leading his team effectively and collaborating with colleagues to drive toward the attainment of enterprise goals. Alongside those professional commitments, James understands the importance of balancing matters of heart, mind, and soul. His faith and his family hold a central place in his life. He is also actively engaged in his church, including as a lifelong pianist and choir member. Outside of work, he cherishes his roles as husband, father, son, brother, and friend, which form the essence of his identity. Finally, James, a Colorado native, has said the outdoors, and, specifically, any mountains anywhere in the world, are his place of existential respite and replenishment.

The grounding in faith and family allows James to maintain a broader perspective on life and work. He seeks to strike a balance between professional pursuits and personal interests, fostering a sense of purpose and fulfillment in both aspects of his life. This wholistic approach empowers James to excel in his role, live out his core values and enjoy overall well-being.

Beyond his professional roles James has contributed to several leading civic organizations. He has served on the board of trustees for the San Antonio Symphony and the Center for American and International Law. Additionally, his expertise led to his service on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

Guiding Principles for Aspiring Leaders

James offers aspiring leaders the following guidance:

• Know WHO you are: Never lose sight of your values and the vision for your life that goes beyond your current title, role, and compensation. Staying connected to your core principles will guide you in making meaningful decisions and staying focused on your long-term goals.
• Know your WHY: Always keep in mind what motivates you to excel and work with a sense of purpose. Understanding your driving force will help you stay committed and dedicated to performing with excellence in all pursuits.
• Know your WHAT: Seek out work that aligns with your beliefs and values. Choosing roles and projects that resonate with you and collaborating with people you trust and respect will foster a fulfilling and enriching professional journey.
• Know your WHEN: If you find yourself in a position, role, or company that doesn’t align with your core values and life vision, be prepared to make necessary changes. Whether it involves exploring opportunities within your current company or considering options outside of it, prioritizing alignment with your interests and values is essential for your personal and professional growth.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $195 billion at June 30, 2023.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Website: https://www.key.com/personal/index.html