Chief Operating Officer

A $15 billion and rapidly growing regional bank is seeking a high-impact Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help lead an ambitious growth strategy centered on becoming a premier banking franchise through disciplined, repeatable acquisitions.

With a clear mandate to double in size within the next several years, the bank is executing a serial M&A strategy, combining strong organic performance with a steady cadence of acquisitions. The organization is well-capitalized, highly regarded, and positioned to scale into a significantly larger and more complex institution.

This role is ideal for an executive who has built and executed repeatable integration models and understands how to drive consistent value creation across multiple transactions.

The EVP/COO will serve as a central architect of the bank’s growth engine, partnering closely with the CEO, Board, and corporate development team. Beyond leading day-to-day operations, this executive will own the end-to-end integration lifecycle—from diligence through execution and synergy realization—ensuring each acquisition strengthens the enterprise.

The COO will establish a best-in-class integration capability, enabling the bank to scale efficiently while maintaining strong client experience, risk discipline, and cultural alignment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide operations, including loan and deposit operations, treasury operations, payments, and client servicing.
• Build and institutionalize a repeatable M&A integration playbook, including governance, timelines, and accountability structures.
• Partner on transaction diligence to assess operational, technology, and integration risks and opportunities.
• Lead all post-merger integration efforts, including:
  • Core and digital platform conversions
  • Operational consolidation and process standardization
  • Branch and back-office rationalization
  • Talent assessment and organizational alignment
  • Client communication and retention strategies
• Drive synergy capture, including cost saves, revenue enablement, and efficiency improvements.
• Establish integration management office (IMO) discipline, tracking KPIs, milestones, and value realization across deals.
• Ensure operational scalability to support a multi-market, multi-entity organization.
• Oversee technology strategy with a focus on integration readiness, platform rationalization, and digital enablement.
• Maintain strong operational risk, compliance, and regulatory alignment throughout periods of rapid expansion.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate is a proven banking operator and integration leader who has played a key role in multiple acquisitions and thrives in a fast-paced, deal-oriented environment.

Qualifications & Experience

• 15+ years of senior leadership experience in banking or financial services, ideally within $10B–$100B institutions.
• Prior experience as COO, Head of Operations, or senior executive overseeing large-scale operational infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success executing multiple bank acquisitions and integrations (serial M&A experience strongly preferred).
• Deep, hands-on experience with:
  • Core banking conversions
  • Systems integration and platform rationalization
  • Integration governance and IMO leadership
• Track record of delivering measurable synergy realization and efficiency improvements post-acquisition.
• Strong understanding of regulatory expectations in acquisitive banking environments.

Leadership Attributes

• Operator-builder who can create structure, discipline, and repeatability across integrations.
• Decisive, execution-oriented leader with a bias for speed and accountability.
• Strategic partner who aligns operations with enterprise growth objectives.
• High credibility with Board members, regulators, and executive stakeholders.
• Change leader who can unify cultures and teams across acquired institutions.

Opportunity

This is a career-defining opportunity to help build a scaled banking franchise through a disciplined, repeatable acquisition strategy. The EVP/COO will play a central role in shaping how the bank grows—designing and executing the integration model that underpins long-term value creation.

For the right executive, this role offers not just operational leadership, but the chance to architect one of the region’s most compelling banking growth stories.

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