INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Craig joined Togetherwork, an integrated financial software and payments platform for member-based organizations as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) on March 31, 2025. Previously, he was responsible for operations and customer experience for the Modern Banking platform at FIS. The Modern Banking platform is a 3rd generation cloud-based core banking platform for both retail and commercial banks. FIS is the global leader in financial technologies focusing on banking, capital markets, and payments products and services.

Craig has also been responsible for global enterprise architecture, emerging technologies, and enterprise technology transformation at FIS. He focused on applying existing, new and emerging technologies to transform and optimize business and operating models across all products and services.

Craig’s previous role was chief technology officer at Livingston International, which is a global trade management and logistics company. He was responsible for technology, enterprise portfolio management, and was general management of Livingston’s SaaS software businesses. Craig modernized Livingston’s infrastructure and application capabilities by leveraging API, mobile, cloud, AI, machine learning, data analytics, and blockchain technologies.

Craig has a unique portfolio of experiences and has achieved exceptional results in driving global product offerings, enterprise architecture and product innovation. The majority of Craig’s career has been focused on payments technology, including executive vice president and global chief technology officer at Transaction Network Services, as well as chief technology officer of financial services and general manager of prepaid at First Data Corporation and senior vice president, technology and operations at ConcordEFS, which included responsibility for the Star and MAC debit networks. Prior to ConcordEFS Craig held leadership roles at Electronic Payment Services and CoreStates Financial (now Wells Fargo).

Craig holds a B.B.A. in finance and legal studies and an M.B.A. in technology management, both from Temple University, Fox School of Business in Philadelphia. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management Executive Education Program.

Craig has served on the Advisory Committee for Ben Franklin Technology Partners and currently serves on the Mid-Atlantic Customer Experience Advisory Board. Craig also mentors CEOs, advises portfolio companies, and mentors Temple students.

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL IT AWARDS

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Fran Geatens is Vice President, Technology Infrastructure, Operations, and Experience at Merck. In this role, Fran is responsible for managing the technology infrastructure and business applications that underpin Merck’s business operations globally, enabling the company to save and improve lives around the world. Likewise, Fran and his team are leading Merck’s accelerated cloud transformation that is modernizing the technology landscape at the company and enabling new ways of working.

Prior to this role, Fran led IT and strategy realization for Merck’s Consumer Care (MCC) business unit. This included support for R&D, supply chain, and commercial functions with a focus on driving business growth, agility, and innovation. Fran was also responsible for MCC strategic performance management, business planning, and served as chief of staff for the MCC division president.

During his previous tenure at Merck, Fran held various IT leadership roles supporting the sales, marketing, manufacturing, supply chain, and finance functions that drive Merck’s pharmaceutical and vaccine business. Fran joined Merck in 1993.

Fran earned his bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from Drexel University. He also earned his MBA in Finance from the Fox School of Business, Temple University.

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL IT AWARDS

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Karthik Sridharan is Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at OceanFirst Bank, which he joined in 2019. Previously, Karthik was the Chief Technology Officer at Citigroup and held leadership roles in global technology management with JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He was also Industry Manager at Microsoft before entering the financial services industry.

In the above roles, he has enabled strategy of “Build the Digital Bank” from the dotcom era to contemporary roles with realized transformation of direct-to-customer web, social media, mobile first, and multi-channel solutions for banking business lines. He has also modernized application time to market through new development and architecture evolutions of Technology Blueprints and patterns. He has improved from years to months to days, wealth management, retail banking, commercial banking, trading, and money movement business solution delivery by realizing strategies for private, public, and hybrid “cloud-first, mobile-first” applications for customer communications and engagement. Karthik has also worked on merger, acquisition, and divestiture technology integration and separation for community and global banking customers seeking to grow or divest retail and commercial footprints.

Karthik volunteers with community and industry organizations such as the Go Africa Network Inc. and Wall Street Technology Association. Karthik has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and information systems management from Temple University Fox School of Business.

TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL IT AWARDS