WASHINGTON—Rob Nichols has been named to be the next president of the American Bankers Association. Nichols is currently president/CEO of the Financial Services Forum, as well as a former assistant secretary in the Treasury Department. He will succeed Frank Keating, who will retire later this summer after five years as CEO.
“Rob Nichols will be a superb leader of the ABA,” said John Ikard, chairman of the ABA and president and CEO of FirstBank Holding Co., Lakewood, Colo. “The banking industry is undergoing a great deal of change. We sought a visionary, strategic leader with demonstrated public policy acumen, a keen understanding of the entirety of the banking and financial system, and a strong track record of both strategic management and bipartisan advocacy. Rob Nichols hits the mark on all counts, and we are delighted that he will be leading our organization.”
Both credit union trade groups' CEOs offered congratulations.
“I offer my full congratulations to Rob and look forward to working with him on a wide variety of financial services issues both of our organizations face," said CUNA CEO Jim Nussle.
“We congratulate Rob on his new position as the incoming CEO for the ABA," said NAFCU's Dan Berger. "I strongly encourage him to work closely with us and focus on reducing the regulatory burdens our respective members face.”