A newly formed private bank and wealth management firm was focused on accelerating growth within the constraints of strict banking regulations. They needed a rare mix of skills: an entrepreneurial self-starter who could hit the pavement and generate business independently, while also possessing the leadership chops to grow into a key executive role. After tapping their network to no avail, they turned to Duffy Group to deploy a full-scale search. Within two months, we delivered a candidate who revitalized loan production and became an integral part of the bank’s leadership.

The Challenge

The bank faced mounting pressure, working to establish its lending operations and expand its market presence. Operating under strict banking rules, they had little flexibility to adjust their business plan and needed to act fast. The bank sought a Senior Lending Leader (later titled Chief Banking Officer) who could generate business independently while possessing the leadership skills to grow into an executive role.

However, the search presented several challenges:

• Banking leaders had reached out to their own networks but hadn’t conducted a full-scale search, leaving much of the Phoenix-area talent pool unexplored.
• The role required a rare blend of hands-on lending experience, entrepreneurial drive and executive leadership potential.
• Beyond technical skills, the candidate needed the right personality — a self-starter with a commanding presence who could thrive in their growth-focused culture.

These challenges underscored the need for a recruitment approach that could uncover hidden, high-caliber talent ready to meet immediate lending goals and grow into leadership.

The Solution

As the first step in our five-step Duffy Recruitment Research™ process, known as “strategy development,” we conducted a thorough intake, asking targeted questions to understand the private bank’s regulatory environment, leadership expectations and company culture.

The CEO provided a list of potential candidates from his network, which served as a valuable starting point. We reached out to these individuals directly and used their profiles to expand our candidate pool, identifying passive talent the initial search had missed.

This approach ensured we found the right mix of lending expertise, leadership ability and business development acumen to meet their immediate and long-term needs.

The Outcome

Duffy Group’s targeted strategy delivered outstanding results:

• 95 candidates identified
• 10 candidates submitted
• 8 candidates interviewed

Within two months, the newly established private bank filled the Chief Banking Officer position — a rapid turnaround for an executive role of this complexity. His performance has exceeded expectations, driving loan production, strengthening the leadership team and effectively bridging the lending gap that had initially prompted the search. He also fits seamlessly into their culture and work ethic.

Impressed with the results, the bank has re-engaged Duffy Group for additional searches, reinforcing a trusted and lasting partnership.