KAR’s new chief privacy officer to help navigate ‘complex regulatory landscape’

KAR Global vice president of intellectual property and technology counsel Michelle Bray will expand her responsibilities to include the role of chief privacy officer.

She becomes the first in company history to serve in that role.

“Protecting the privacy of our data and information is one of our highest priorities, and an expectation of our customers, stakeholders and board of directors,” KAR Global senior vice president, general counsel and secretary Chuck Coleman said in a news release.

Bray’s added responsibility includes navigating what the company describes as a “complex and changing regulatory landscape.”

KAR Global said Bray takes on that responsibility as the company evolves into an even more data-driven, technology-enabled company.

“Michelle has been instrumental to protecting KAR’s intellectual properties and fostering innovation throughout the organization,” Coleman said.

He continued, “Her unique experience and skillset will help us continue to meet and exceed those expectations in the rapidly-changing data and technology landscape of our company and industry.”

Before this new announcement on her expanded role as chief privacy officer, Bray led the legal aspects of safeguarding KAR’s intellectual properties.

That has involved maintaining global trademark and brand licenses, seeking patent protection for company innovations and inventions, and providing counsel on trade secret protection, global and national laws and regulations.

She began her career working on cases involving the use of trademarks and copyrights in cyberspace during the mid-1990s internet boom.

In addition, Bray has worked in private practice protecting global trademark portfolios, negotiating brand and product licenses, and litigating trademark and copyright cases.

“As KAR continues to evolve into a more global, digital and technology-driven business, data privacy is absolutely mission-critical,” Bray said.

She continued, “I look forward to working with our broad and talented data security team as well as our diverse technology and legal professionals to reinforce our strong data-privacy foundation and accelerate innovation across the growing patchwork of legal and regulatory requirements around the globe.”