The revolving door to the banking’s leadership ranks is spinning faster and faster, thanks to the pell-mell pace of change in the industry. To keep track, you can stay glued to your LinkedIn feed, but who has the time?
Welcome to the Banking People Moves from The Financial Brand, our new monthly one-stop a record of the c-suite executives, marketing VPs and more moving around the industry — whether they’re arriving from other industries, moving from institution to another or getting promoted within their own bank or credit union.
We don’t claim to be comprehensive, but these are the moves that we think should be on your radar.
Here are the October moves we’re highlighting this month:
- Jeffrey Brown, retiring from Ally Financial
- Chris Kearney, promoted at TruWest Credit Union
- Jennifer Friel Goldstein, promoted at Silicon Valley Bank
- David Sant, promoted at Cyprus Federal Credit Union
- Francesca Carlesi, new at Revolut
- Bill Brown, new at Citadel Credit Union
- Lisa Asadourian, new at MassMutual Federal Credit Union
- Bridgit Larsen, new at The Bank of New Glarus
- Nicole Zimmerman, new at On Tap Credit Union
Retirements on the Horizon
Jeffrey Brown
Institution: Ally Financial (Detroit, Mich.)
Retiring as: Chief executive
What Brown said about the move: “Leading Ally and the company’s transformation over the past nine years has been an honor. The team we’ve built and the culture we’ve established are unparalleled, and our greatest competitive advantage.
“The decision to leave is a difficult one. I’m incredibly proud of what has been accomplished, and excited to witness the next chapter of Ally’s evolution and innovation, now as a customer. I will continue to work diligently with our board to ensure a successful CEO transition over the coming months.”
Inside Brown’s retirement: Ally’s Jeffrey Brown is retiring as chief executive of the $187 billion bank at the end of January 2024. But instead of stepping away from finance altogether, Brown will become the president of Charlotte, N.C.-based Hendrick Automotive Group, a “long-time” customer of the bank.
The bank’s board issued a statement announcing his retirement and said it would enlist a “global executive search firm” to find Brown’s replacement. Neither Brown nor Ally has announced his successor.
October Banking Promotions
Chris Kearney
Institution: TruWest Credit Union (Tempe, Ariz.)
New position: President
Old position: Chief information officer, SVP
Inside Kearney’s promotion: TruWest Credit Union, with $1.51 billion in assets, promoted Chris Kearney, formerly the chief information officer, as the president of the credit union in October 2023, following Alan Althouse’s retirement that month. Althouse held the position for nearly nine years before, marking almost half of his tenure at the credit union.
Kearney himself has worked at TruWest for over a decade, coming to the credit union from a nine-year stint at Desert Financial in 2012. After he graduated with his bachelor’s in industrial technology at Arizona State University (ASU), he worked at Accenture for five years as a technology manager. He also holds an MBA from ASU.
Althouse will retain his position as chief executive until Kearney assumes the position in October 2024.
Jennifer Friel Goldstein
Institution: Silicon Valley Bank (Santa Clara, Calif.)
New position: Head of business development and strategic initiatives
Old position: Managing partner of life sciences and healthcare, SVB Capital
What Friel Goldstein said about the move: “Have REJOINED SVB (yes, SVB!!!) to help our clients and stakeholders continue to experience the best of SVB. I’m here to help you navigate all things Life Science and Healthcare, as well as work on some new special projects (watch this space). Can’t wait for what’s next!”
David Sant
Institution: Cyprus FCU (West Jordan, Utah)
New position: Chief strategy officer
Old position: Chief marketing officer
New Moves
Francesca Carlesi
Institution: Revolut (London, England)
New position: Chief executive, U.K. operation
Coming from: Molo Finance (London, England)
Last position: Chief executive
What we found interesting: Carlesi has yet to change her title on LinkedIn or comment on her new role.
What else to know about Carlesi’s new move: Revolut hired Carlesi from Molo Finance, a digital mortgage lender based in the U.K., that she founded in 2017. Before Molo, Carlesi has a resume packed with financial industry experience, ranging from three years at Deutsche Bank as the chief of staff and global head of regulatory affairs to ten years at McKinsey as an Associate Partner.
In her new role, Carlesi would be responsible for the digital bank’s U.K. operations, which could include Revolut’s banking division if it receives its Britain banking license.
Bill Brown
Institution: Citadel Credit Union (Exton, Penn.)
New position: President and chief executive
Coming from: BNY Mellon (New York, N.Y.)
Last position: Senior group manager, private banking
What Brown said about the move: “I couldn’t be happier to join the wonderful Citadel team. I plan to continue building upon the legacy and people-first culture Jeff has set for this industry-leading credit union and driving us forward by focusing on our members’ needs. I have a firm belief that people deserve a financial institution that cares about giving them a better experience and improving their financial wellbeing, and that’s exactly why I chose Citadel, and what I’ll continue to prioritize.”
What else to know about Brown’s new move: Brown is no banking amateur. He started as a regional manager of a Citi Bank regional manager and moved up through the ranks in 11 years at the company, ending his tenure there as the managing director and head of global consumer BSA/AML/KYC and branch controls. From there, Brown spent time at HSBC, Dime Community Bank (in the New York metro area), Investors Bank in New Jersey and a short time at BNY Mellon, not to mention eight years as a naval flight officer in the Navy.
Brown takes over the role at $5.7 billion Citadel as president and chief executive from Jeff March, who started at the credit union in 1983. He announced in May 2023 his search for a successor.
Lisa Asadourian
Institution: MassMutual FCU (Springfield, Mass.)
New position: President and chief executive
Coming from: New Reach, Inc. (New Haven, Conn.)
Last position: Chief operating officer
What else to know about Asadourian’s new move: Asadourian has been in and around credit unions for over twenty years. Her most recent experience was New Reach, Inc — a non-profit providing services to low-income and improverished communitiies — and New Reach Lending Company.
Before that, she spend over 20 years at Nutmeg Federal Credit Union in various role, ending as the senior vice president and chief engagement officer.
Asadourian follows Dave Plantier, who retired from MassMutual in October after 38 years at the credit union.
Bridgit Larsen
Institution: The Bank of New Glarus (New Glarus, Wis.)
New position: Marketing director
Coming from: Lake Ridge Bank (Madison, Wis.)
Last position: Marketing specialist
Nicole Zimmerman
Institution: On Tap Credit Union (Golden, Colo.)
New position: Marketing director
Coming from: Jogan Health (Englewood, Colo.)
Last position: Senior brand manager
If your name is missing on the list, or you’ll be in a new position next month, email our editorial team.)