Building Resilient Leadership Pipelines for Sustained Business Growth

By Adam Eckels | February 9, 2026

Consistent, decades-long growth is no small feat. It requires both intense strategic planning and consistency in execution, both of which are a direct outcome of strong leadership. Without resilient pipelines to source quality executives who can carry through on the ambitions of their predecessors, banks and financial institutions inevitably stall out. Unfortunately, right now executive…

External Search vs. Internal Promotion: Which Executive Recruitment Approach is More Effective in 2026?

By Adam Eckels | January 27, 2026

Despite the hype around chief AI officers and chief data officers taking over the C-suite, the truly acute need for executive talent (at least in banking and financial institutions) lies with more familiar roles: chief finance officers, chief accounting officers, controllers, etc. Many companies experiencing either planned or unexpected exits often struggle to replace these…

The State of Executive Hiring in Banking & Finance

By Adam Eckels | November 4, 2025

We’ve all had that moment of “surprise” when a banking executive suddenly announces their resignation. I put “surprise” in quotes because in most cases, it’s easy to see coming: they were nearing retirement age, a recent M&A deal went through, or the company had begun talking more about “strategic changes.” Whatever the circumstances, our industry…

The Top 4 Priorities of Credit Union Leaders in the Northeast

By Adam Eckels | October 14, 2025

Credit unions are buying banks. Just that one sentence shows how much the script has flipped from a few years ago. Many of our previous assumptions about how the industry works, both here in the Northeast and across the country, are off the table. Whether we’re talking regulatory uncertainty, evolving consumer demands, or digital transformation…

Strategic Leadership in Mergers and Acquisitions: Banking and Finance Outlook for 2025

By Adam Eckels | September 23, 2025

In Q1 2025, the outlook for mergers & acquisitions (M&A) in banking and finance was hopeful. By Q2, it had tempered significantly. Now, as we gear up for Q4, it’s just confusing. The players have shifted, big deals have hit pause or fallen through, and uncertainty around government policies has all caused confidence to drop…

The Rising Importance of Employer Branding in Attracting Top Talent

By Adam Eckels | August 22, 2025

When you think of companies with a strong employer brand, who comes to mind? Maybe Netflix, Airbnb, or Google. But probably not one of the multinational financial firms. Historically, employer branding hasn’t been a top priority in our industry. That’s starting to change. The number of open accounting and finance roles increased 150% from last…

Navigating Compensation Strategies Amid Economic Uncertainty

By Adam Eckels | July 22, 2025

In a climate marked by persistent inflation, interest rate volatility, and shifting workforce expectations, executive compensation strategies in the financial services sector are undergoing accelerated transformation. Regional banks and credit unions face mounting pressure not only to retain top leadership talent but also to structure pay in a way that supports long-term strategic objectives while…

Digital Transformation and the Future of Credit Union Member Engagement

By Adam Eckels | June 23, 2025

Digital transformation is reshaping the financial services sector, placing member engagement at the forefront of credit unions’ strategies. Traditionally celebrated for their personalized approach and strong community ties, credit unions must now embrace digital innovation to enhance relationships, retain loyalty, and maintain competitiveness. Let’s explore three key areas that have been impacted by digital transformation…

4 Executive Recruitment Trends Shaping the Future of Credit Union Leadership

By Adam Eckels | June 12, 2025

Across industries, the C-suite exodus is creating a leadership continuity crisis in the United States. Gartner reports 56% of executives—excluding CHROs—are likely to quit within two years, largely due to heavily increased workloads and stress. And that doesn’t account for the many retirees who will soon leave the credit union industry for good. To address…

How Fluctuating Credit Union Regulations Are Shaping Executive Talent Strategies

By Adam Eckels | June 10, 2025

Credit union regulations and laws continue to be in constant flux. In 2025, federal lawmakers introduced a wave of policy rollbacks across the financial sector—all while challenging long-standing protections like tax exemption for CUs. At the regional level, scrutiny has intensified as well, with states like Tennessee even banning credit union acquisitions of banks. Predicting…