The Conference of State Bank Supervisors’ Board of Directors appointed Brandon Milhorn as president and CEO.
Milhorn, current deputy to FDIC Vice Chair Travis Hill, will assume the role Dec. 4. He succeeds the retiring James Cooper, who has served in the roles since the death of John Ryan in May 2022.
Milhorn has nearly three decades of advocacy, policy, legal and regulatory experience, mainly in Washington D.C. His experience includes roles at private defense contractor Raytheon and counsel to Senate committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Intelligence, the CIA, and in two prominent U.S. Court clerkships.
In 1994, Milhorn graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University, Johnson City. He has a law degree from Cornell Law School, Ithaca, N.Y.
“Brandon brings a unique blend of relevant experiences, valuable networks and reputation, and the leadership skills necessary to meet the high expectations we have of our next leader, established with extensive input from all CSBS members and staff, that will allow CSBS to realize its full potential,” said Board Chair Lisa Kruse. “The board and staff look forward to working with him in service to our members nationwide and in collaboration with our partners in Washington.”
Independent Community Bankers of America President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey congratulated Milhorn following his appointment. “ICBA looks forward to working with Milhorn and CSBS as we continue to ensure that the community bank perspective shapes the policies that affect our industry and the customers and communities it serves,” she added.
Cooper is credited with helping to advance the state system’s strategy to strengthen and streamline state regulation and for providing stability during the string of bank failures last spring. Cooper, who previously directed CSBS policy and supervision, joined the agency following a 30-year career at the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, where he was deputy director from 1994-2013.
“Under Jim’s leadership, we have made substantial progress particularly with our Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System platform,” said Kruse, commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.