Mountain Ridge Capital has appointed Joy Hanawa as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Ms. Hanawa is a financial services technology veteran with over 25 years of executive-level experience dedicated to driving growth and operational efficiency through technology and AI.
Ms. Hanawa's appointment is a clear indication of Mountain Ridge's commitment to be a technology-led lender, with a sharp focus on being an industry leader through strategic implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). She will be responsible for defining and executing the firm's comprehensive technology strategy, overseeing all systems, data, and digital innovation, including the integration of advanced AI solutions, to maintain its competitive edge.
"We are thrilled to welcome Joy to the executive team," said Craig Winslow, CEO of Mountain Ridge Capital. "Her proven track record in architecting modern technology stacks, driving significant cost savings, and leading high-growth financial services firms—combined with her deep expertise in leveraging AI for financial workflows—makes her the ideal leader to guide our next phase of technological maturity and innovation."
A distinguished leader in the sector, Ms. Hanawa has held several key executive roles within financial services. This includes serving as Director of Technology, Data & Analytics at Edge Capital Lending; VP of Technology at Thunder Funding, where her initiatives contributed to 400% company growth; and CTO of E-Capital, where she modernized IT infrastructure and implemented over 250 business process automations. Her innovations have earned significant industry recognition, including being named a finalist in the prestigious Banking Tech Awards.
Joy Hanawa expressed her excitement about the new role: "I am incredibly happy to be joining Mountain Ridge Capital, a group that is clearly committed to being a forward-thinking organization in the financial services space. Technology, particularly the strategic use of data and AI, is no longer a support function but the primary driver of competitive advantage. I look forward to working with this talented team to build an innovative, human-first technology platform that not only streamlines operations but truly empowers our people and clients."