University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School of Banking President and CEO Kirby Davidson will retire at the end of 2024.
Davidson was hired in 2000 as vice president of marketing and banker relations, and was promoted to president and CEO in 2008.
During Davidson’s tenure, GSB has added four speciality schools, including IT management, IT security, sales and marketing and digital banking as well as HR and financial managers schools which were introduced in the early 2000s. Davidson worked with the Wisconsin School of Business to enable Banking School graduates to also receive the Executive Leadership Certificate from the School of Business, which is considered the highest leadership certificate available from the university.
Davidson oversaw the development of web-based bank management simulation software FiSim, which replaced the previous BankSim model GSB had used for decades. Launched in 2019, the platform provides seniors with a simulation model that incorporates modern approaches to banking and leadership.
“Under Kirby Davidson’s leadership, the Graduate School of Banking has expanded its educational offerings and built on the school’s reputation for excellence and academic rigor,” said GSB Board of Trustees Chair Randy Hultgren. “He has established a solid foundation for his successor and GSB is very well-positioned to continue creating leaders and educating professionals in our dynamic industry.”
GSB has retained Madison, Wis.-based human resources advisory firm The QTI Group to conduct a search for the next president and CEO. The search is expected to begin in January.