Moving Beyond the Office of 'No': CIOs on Their Evolving Role
September 11, 2015 12:34 PM
As part of American Banker's series on the C-Suite , chief information officers, chief technology officers and others serving in similar roles at banks shared their insights into how the industry is being affected by technology, where they wish they could spend more time and what it takes to be a driving force in their institutions.
Looking Beyond Tomorrow
Bill Callaghan
Chief information officer
Xenith Bankshares, Richmond, Va.
$993 million in assets
"It is critical that the CIO can effectively think at the 30,000 foot level and also be able to visualize the organization's technology infrastructure three years into the future."
Chief information officer
Xenith Bankshares, Richmond, Va.
$993 million in assets
"It is critical that the CIO can effectively think at the 30,000 foot level and also be able to visualize the organization's technology infrastructure three years into the future."
Finding a Good Match
Todd Kuehnast
Senior vice president, information technology
Alliance Bank, Lake City, Minn.
$563 million in assets
"I think you need to have the ability to match technology with the business needs of the bank. There are new technologies constantly being introduced to the banking industry, and you need to be able to decide which technologies are the right one for your institution. There isn't a one-size-fits-all technology solution."
Senior vice president, information technology
Alliance Bank, Lake City, Minn.
$563 million in assets
"I think you need to have the ability to match technology with the business needs of the bank. There are new technologies constantly being introduced to the banking industry, and you need to be able to decide which technologies are the right one for your institution. There isn't a one-size-fits-all technology solution."
Moving Beyond the Office of "No" Reputation
Tim Lenhoff
Chief technology officer
Dime Community Bancshares, Brooklyn, N.Y.
$4.5 billion in assets
If "you have a strategic roadmap and plan that is shared from the board level down to the line managers [with] total transparency of what you have planned this year and next, there will be less of that type of comment."
Chief technology officer
Dime Community Bancshares, Brooklyn, N.Y.
$4.5 billion in assets
If "you have a strategic roadmap and plan that is shared from the board level down to the line managers [with] total transparency of what you have planned this year and next, there will be less of that type of comment."
The Benefits of Balance
Zahid Afzal
Chief technology & operations executive
Capital Bank Financial Corp., Coral Gables, Fla.
$7.1 billion in assets
"Banks are spending far more resources on being compliant than innovating. A fine balance between the two will be much healthier for the economy."
Chief technology & operations executive
Capital Bank Financial Corp., Coral Gables, Fla.
$7.1 billion in assets
"Banks are spending far more resources on being compliant than innovating. A fine balance between the two will be much healthier for the economy."
Teaching the Non-Techies
Kirsten Garen
Chief Information officer
Bank of the West, San Francisco
$71 billion in assets
"The business guys see that tech fuels their business and ability to increase revenues and cut costs, and they want to spend time to be educated."
Chief Information officer
Bank of the West, San Francisco
$71 billion in assets
"The business guys see that tech fuels their business and ability to increase revenues and cut costs, and they want to spend time to be educated."
Budget Battles
Anil Cheriyan
Chief information officer
SunTrust Banks, Atlanta
$189 billion in assets
"There are heavy debates, obviously, going on in terms of where we should be spending our dollars most wisely and by which segment."
Chief information officer
SunTrust Banks, Atlanta
$189 billion in assets
"There are heavy debates, obviously, going on in terms of where we should be spending our dollars most wisely and by which segment."
