Mary Ann Scully, Board Chair and CEO at Howard Bank, discusses the consolidation of community banks, deregulation, the need for scale, and innovation opportunities in banking.
Reggie Davis, President of Banking at Flagstar Bank, reflects upon his leadership in the financial industry, and how to think differently, break convention, challenge racism, and embrace change.
Bill McNabb, former Board Chair and CEO at Vanguard, redefines TSR (total shareholder return) as he examines the future of corporate leadership in environmental, social, and governance responsibility.
An AchieveNEXT survey of the wealth and asset management industry reveals a substantial gap between the level of DE&I performance in the industry and leaders’ perceptions of their own enterprises’ progress. In the survey, conducted in late spring 2021, in conjunction with Kaplan and MMI, more than 60 executives and advisors in the wealth and […]
The role of a board member of any organization is constantly evolving. Economic cycles, leadership transitions, market dynamics, competitive changes, governance activists, and even political shifts can impact board composition and best practices in corporate governance seemingly out of the blue. Then add the unexpected challenges of a global pandemic, and the environment changes quickly […]
By: Sharon J. Lorman, The Kafafian GroupJeffrey P. Marsico, The Kafafian Group Podcast Show Notes: On this episode, our guests share their insights on how banks are returning to work, some of the benefits and risks associated with “work from home”, and how to promote your culture when a sizeable part of your workforce is remote. […]
Someone once said that “diversity is being invited to the dance; inclusion is being invited to dance”. If this is true, then more banks than ever in New Jersey are dancing! Our industry has had an imbalance for a long time. While a majority of many banks’ employees are often female, those ranks get thinner […]
By Jeremy Weisz, Achieve NEXT Alan J. Kaplan is the Founder and CEO of Kaplan Partners, an executive search and board advisory firm. Alan launched Kaplan Partners in 1994 after beginning his corporate banking career with First Pennsylvania Bank and Meritor/PSFS. Since then, he has built Kaplan Partners into a nationally recognized boutique firm that has […]
In an ideal world, the departure of a key leader at a community bank would be an anticipated and carefully orchestrated event. A retirement date would be set. The successor would have plenty of time to learn from their predecessor. It would be a smooth transition. But we don’t live in an ideal world. If […]
Despite the dual impacts of the global pandemic and challenging economy, this past summer our firm was quite busy continuing to work diligently on behalf of our clients. Some of our recent success stories: President of Community Banking, Flagstar Bank President & CEO, Community Bank/CB Financial Services EVP & Imminent President & CEO, Bankers Cooperative Group/NJ Bankers VP-Finance, […]
Someone once said that “diversity is being invited to the dance; inclusion is being invited to dance”. If this is true, than PACB is finally dancing! After over 140 years serving community banks throughout the Commonwealth, PACB has its first woman Chair, Lori Cestra, EVP & COO of Enterprise Bank in Pittsburgh. This milestone has […]
As companies large and small grapple with the business impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, CEOs and their executive teams need all the help they can get. The Board of Directors or Board of Advisors should be one of the primary resources for organizational leaders. But what if that board is not up to the task […]
To view this article in its published format click here <PACB April 2020 – Kaplan (1)> The global pandemic has struck terror into the hearts of nearly everyone. Business leaders and board members are reeling from the rapid impact on their organizations, across public companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations and more. Everyone has been affected. […]
A conversation with Denise Devine CEO of FNB Holdings & Co-Founder of RTM Vital Signs, LLC
The global pandemic has struck terror into the hearts of nearly everyone. Business leaders and board members are reeling from the rapid impact on their organizations, across public companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations and more. Everyone has been affected. One of the less discussed impacts, which is shaking boardrooms and executive suites, is the issue […]
I don’t claim to be an expert in crisis management. However, since founding our firm 26 years ago, I’ve met literally thousands of C-Suite leaders and recruited over 100 Presidents/CEOs. So, I have observed a few things along the way. Here are three critical elements of leadership which I view as particularly relevant in these […]
A conversation with Carol Johnson
A Conversation with Jim Deutsch, Partner, Patriot Financial Partners
Business conditions, financial markets and competitive landscapes are always changing. But perhaps there is no arena of business undergoing a more significant transformation at the moment than corporate governance. Whether driven by activists investors, regulators, institutional shareholders, governance gadflies or best practices, corporate governance is in the crosshairs for many organizations today. And in the […]
Publicly traded businesses have long been mandated to have a compensation committee which reviews and sets the pay and benefits for corporate executives, and most non-public financial institutions have followed suit. Most “comp committees,” as they are affectionately called, spend the vast majority of their time focused on the institution’s pay practices — including establishing […]
A Conversation with Chris Franklin / Chairman + CEO, Aqua America
A Conversation with Trish Wellenbach
Board games, team players It’s the stuff of Hollywood drama and CEO nightmares. Dysfunctional boards of directors – at least in movies and bad dreams – can be the source is interminable meetings, uninspired deliberation, corporate gridlock and even hostile power grabs. In everyday business life, however, a board of directors doesn’t have to be […]
A Conversation with Carol Johnson
A Conversation with Denise Devine
A Conversation with Jim Deutsch
A Conversation with Trish Wellenbach
A Conversation with Chris Franklin
Talent Shortage Strategies A decreasing unemployment rate, an aging baby boomer workforce, and the rise of technology and the gig economy have all been cited as reasons for the current talent shortage. But as the war for talent gets even more challenging, there are strategies that companies and private equity firms can employ to ensure […]
In governance circles today, the conversations about board performance continue to advance. <To view the Article in its published format, click here: Why Directors Should Not Fear Board Evaluations > Governance advocates, proxy advisors and institutional investors encourage varying approaches to evaluating directors, assessing board effectiveness, and raising the bar on expectations for director contributions […]
The world of corporate governance today has a brighter spotlight on boards of directors than ever before. <To view the Article in its published format, click here: 7 Things Bank Boards Should Focus on> The world of corporate governance today has a brighter spotlight on boards of directors than ever before. While bank regulatory relief […]
A well-orchestrated plan of succession and leadership continuity reassures employees, investors and communities One of a bank board’s most vital responsibilities is overseeing the plan of succession for the CEO. Whether driven by a looming retirement or change in the incumbent’s personal timeline, a well-orchestrated plan of succession and leadership continuity reassures employees, investors and […]
Assessing Your Bank’s Leadership Team is the Foundation of Successful Succession Planning <To View the Article in its published format, click here: Dream Team Article A 8-2017> Many bank Boards of Directors and CEOs are proud of their bank’s executive team. And rightly so! Yet frequently those feelings of pride dissolve into uncertainty when the […]
While the requirements needed in a bank leader today continue to evolve, the same can also be said for bank directors. Boards of directors today are under more scrutiny than ever before, whether from governance advisors, shareholders, Wall Street analysts, activist investors, community leaders and customers. Even mutuals and privately held institutions face more visible […]
Today’s bank leader remains under more pressure than at any time since the financial crisis. Tangible skills still matter, such as commercial credit experience, risk management and strategic planning. Nevertheless, the real challenges may lie in developing the key leadership requirements for institutional success, and in the navigation of the managerial challenges which lie ahead. […]
Today’s bank leader is under greater pressure than at any time since the financial crisis. While the crisis itself was a hot mess, the banking climate remaining in the aftermath of the Great Recession has likely altered the course of the industry for decades to come. The two most vital ingredients today for a bank’s […]
Alan Kaplan, Kaplan Partners, USA Founder and CEO How would you describe the outlook for the CFO function in the US? The CFO function has always been a critical role in organizations, but in the post-crisis era the finance function has taken on additional significance for a variety of reasons. During the financial crisis, a […]
Selecting your bank’s next chief executive officer remains the board’s single most important responsibility. The risk of selecting an underprepared or inadequate leader is high, and can impact the bank’s strategic direction, reputation and ultimately, its viability. As highlighted last month, there are many critical banking industry skills needed in a leader today. In addition, […]
Selecting a chief executive to lead your institution is a bank board’s single most important responsibility. Everything flows from this decision, including the bank’s strategy, reputation, the ability to attract critical talent, investor and employee confidence and the credibility of the board itself. Selecting an underprepared or inadequate leader—no matter how well liked or how […]