Bankers to Watch in 2014
December 20, 2013 11:12 AM
A look at 10 bankers who will be busy in 2014 digesting big acquisitions, finding new sources of revenue, answering critics or proving themselves in new roles.
(Image: Thinkstock)
William Demchak, PNC Financial
Demchak will complete his first year as CEO in April . The Pittsburgh company is quickly becoming a tech innovator, particularly in mobile banking, as it searches for ways to rein in expenses and offset slipping mortgage revenue. Demchak has led industry discussions about ways to rethink consumer banking and associated fees. He's also at the forefront of a more analog type of customer service: fielding customers' phone calls .
Ray Davis, Umpqua Financial
The Portland, Ore., company is set to close its purchase of Sterling Financial of Spokane, Wash., next year. That will put Davis at the helm of a $22 billion-asset institution facing integration challenges and new Basel III capital requirements .
Ryan McInerney, Visa
McInerney became the card issuer's president at a time when it is working through a high-profile merchant services deal with JPMorgan Chase, whose retail branch operations he formerly ran. Many consider him a rising star.
Cece Stewart, Citigroup
Among American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking , Stewart will faces the challenge of building Citi's consumer bank at a time when most rivals are sputtering in that arena. Citi has been talking up its consumer strategy recently, which will ratchet up the pressure on Stewart to deliver.
Steve Gardner, Pacific Premier
Gardner is a CEO who loves niches. Late last year, Pacific Premier bought a bank that targets homeowner associations . In November, the company bought a specialty finance firm that focuses on franchise lending . Now he will feel the heat to show returns.
Robert Wilmers, M&T Bank
The veteran CEO wrote a heckuva letter to shareholders this spring, taking competitors and accounting firms to task. With regulators stalling M&T's purchase of Hudson City Bancorp over anti-money-laundering concerns , many are curious to see what Wilmers has to say about oversight in his 2014 missive.
Carl Chaney/John Hairston, Hancock Holding
Analysts have been pressing the co-CEOs of the Mississippi company to cut costs more aggressively. In November, Hancock reversed course and announced plans to consolidate its bank charters . The question now is whether Chaney (pictured) and Hairston will continue to slash expenses in 2014?
Arkadi Kuhlmann, ZenBanx
Kulmann launched ING Direct in 2000 and spent a dozen years building it into a retail banking powerhouse until its Dutch-based parent was forced to sell. Ever the innovator, Kuhlmann is now CEO of ZenBanx, which is developing a mobile-banking tool that aims to revolutionize the way money is moved. "We're going to set money free so it can travel as far, as fast and as simply as people do," ZenBanx says in a video on its website .
Bryan Jordan, First Horizon
First Horizon posted a large third-quarter loss due to mortgage repurchase costs, and its lending to mortgage lenders is also stalling. Jordan's challenge at the Memphis, Tenn. company is to scrounge up revenue in a very tough environment.
Everyone at JPMorgan Chase
Jamie Dimon & Co. had quite the roller-coaster ride in 2013 with massive legal settlements and considerable executive shuffling . Who will stay in 2014? Who will go? Who will finish the year with the same job? Marianne Lake, Mary Erdoes, Matt Zames can count on intense scrutiny of their every move in the year ahead.
(Image: Bloomberg News)
