BMO appointed Darrel Hackett U.S. CEO of BMO Financial Group, president and CEO of BMO Harris Bank and CEO of BMO’s U.S. holding company, BMO Financial Corp. (BFC). Hackett will report to CEO Darryl White, join the bank’s executive committee and chair its U.S. management committee. His appointment will go into effect on June 1.

Joining BMO in 2004, Hackett has held several leadership roles at BMO and in the bank’s communities, serving BMO’s clients as the leader of the bank’s U.S. business banking group, as head of the bank’s North American integrated channels team and, most recently, as president of BMO Wealth Management.

“As our U.S. CEO, Darrel’s track record of dedication to our clients’ success, extensive community leadership and commitment to making progress for the elimination of barriers to inclusion will be key to the continued success of BMO U.S.,” White said. “Darrel is a purpose-driven, high-performing and client-focused leader and I am excited to work with him in this new role as team BMO continues to break new ground in the U.S. market.”

Hackett’s appointment follows the retirement announcement of Dave Casper, U.S. CEO of BMO Financial Group. Joining BMO with the bank’s acquisition of Harris Bank in 1984, Casper led BMO’s U.S. commercial banking business since 2010 and BMO’s North American commercial banking business since 2015, going on to serve as U.S. CEO since 2018.

“Dave’s leadership has been instrumental to BMO’s growth, particularly in the United States, as we’ve supported the growth ambitions of our clients and contributed to a thriving economy throughout the communities we serve,” White said. “Dave’s commitment to the home of BMO’s U.S. headquarters, the city of Chicago, is legendary. Under Dave’s leadership of BMO’s commercial banking businesses, BMO has progressed to become a top five commercial lender in North America, and Dave played a key role in our recent acquisition of Bank of the West.”

Following Casper’s retirement, the board of directors of BFC appointed him to serve as chair of the board starting this summer, succeeding John Rau, who has served as chair of the board since 2017 and as a member of the board since 2008.

“We are grateful for the extraordinary guidance and leadership John has provided throughout his distinguished tenure on the board. He is an important part of our U.S. bank’s strong governance model and I look forward to Dave bringing his many years of experience to the role of chair,” White said.

“It is an honor to serve as a member and as chair of the BFC board of directors,”  Rau said. “The opportunity to work with, and alongside, such dedicated professionals on the board and among management is a true privilege. Dave’s skill set and leadership will be a great fit for the chair.”