Insights into Banking Innovation with Tim Brown

Tim Brown, Chief Information Officer at Johnson Financial Group (JFG), is this week’s guest of Humanizing Software, where we explore the concept of software and its relationship to humans. With over 30 years of experience as an Information Technology leader in the financial services industry, we’re excited to talk to Brown about evolving technology and customer experience. He works for a company that’s been named one of the Top Workplaces in 2021 in Financial Services. We’re looking forward to seeing how a top-ranked workplace inspires creativity and innovation with technology.

Prior to joining Johnson Financial Group in 2019, he worked in various executive roles at USAA, United Services Automobile Association, a financial services company serving military members and their families. He received his MBA focused in Finance from St. Mary’s University and a BBA in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University.

A Mission to Improve Quality of Life with IT

Brown is intent on improving the quality of life of people with a clear community focus. As he leads the technology strategy and digital transformation for JFG, he is devoted to using innovative technology to make a difference in every customers’ financial wellness and is a prime example of people-driven tech. With over three decades on the front lines of technology evolution, Tim understands the importance of delivering innovative service solutions to both associates and customers. The combination of passion for technology and a commitment to individuals, coupled with expertise in business process improvement and IT strategy has proved Brown to be a successful project leader.

Customer experience at the forefront

His Information Technology team focuses on a customer’s experience as they develop and implement solutions. Most recently, under Brown’s guidance JFG enhanced the entire digital banking experience with “MyJFG”, a platform that manages a customer’s day-to-day banking in a uniform experience through any type of device (desktop, mobile phone, or tablet). MyJFG allows convenient and expanded access capabilities without a limitation on the type of device used. Johnson Financial Group has $12 billion assets under administration, so there’s a lot to manage with clients. This new uniform tech feature provides only benefits and elevates every type of customer’s money management journey. Highly skilled in mobile application development and emerging technologies, Brown is migrating JFG into a new modernization decade.

Innovation and community in mind

Community is a guiding principle in both Brown’s and JFG’s approach to business, work, and life. As the largest family-owned bank in the state of Wisconsin, JFG’s legacy is based on community trust. Their commitment to families and communities is evident in their business model and their generous annual charitable giving. JFG was recently recognized as one of Wisconsin’s most charitable companies, consistently donating nearly $2 million each year to organizations in need focused on making the communities a better place to live.

Brown demonstrates JFG’s core value of focusing on customers and upholding accountability to the community through innovative software development for said customers. In his personal time, Brown continues his community involvement with member positions on different non-profits boards. He is a Board Member for Best Buddies Wisconsin, a non-profit dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and for Life Navigators, a non-profit with a mission to improve the quality of life for individuals with development and related disabilities. As a trusted partner and strategic leader, Tim served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sovrin Foundation, an international non-profit established to govern the world’s first self-sovereign, identity network built on blockchain.

As a seasoned Information Technology expert, we can’t wait to learn more about Brown’s insights into the financial services industry and how he looks ahead with continuously changing technology.

Catch the September 21 Livecast episode with guest Tim Brown and host Andrew Tull on their conversation about human-driven technology on Humanizing Software!

Watch Humanizing Software Ep 4. with Tim Brown!

Meet the Author

Anahit Poturyan

Anahit Poturyan is a writer, art educator, and digital marketer based in LA with a strong focus on technology, research, history, and culture. She received her B.A. in English Literature and an Art History minor from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an M.A. in Aesthetics and Politics from the California Institute of Art (CalArts). She has worked at the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice, Italy; the 58th Venice Biennale, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Hammer Museum, Artbook @Hauser & Wirth, and Otis College of Art and Design. She has lectured at numerous conferences across the world, such as the Nordic Summer University in Faro, Sweden, and the Western University of Australia, Perth, Australia. Her writings have appeared in the LA Review of Books, MediaTech Ventures, Whitehot Magazine, among others.