NEWS RELEASE
Jan. 7, 2011
ABA Media Contact: John Hall
(202) 663-5473
E-mail: jhall@aba.com

WASHINGTON — Michael J. Hunter has been named chief operating officer of the American Bankers Association, the trade association for the nation’s $13 trillion banking industry and its 2 million employees. He will oversee ABA’s government relations, regulatory, legal and communications activities.

Prior to joining ABA, Hunter served as Oklahoma’s 47th Secretary of the Commissioners of the Land Office, a $4 billion public land and investment trust.  From 2002 through 2009, Hunter was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Council of Life Insurers, the advocacy, legal and research arm of the life insurance industry.

Hunter served as Oklahoma’s secretary of state under Governor Frank Keating, who was recently named ABA’s president and CEO.  As secretary of state, Hunter also served as the Governor’s chief liaison to the Oklahoma Legislature, the state judiciary and the state’s federal delegation.

Hunter was chief of staff to Oklahoma Congressman J. C. Watts Jr. from 1995 to 1999.  His position involved the management of the Congressman’s office in Washington and district offices in Oklahoma. He also served as legal counsel to Watts in his work on the National Security Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

While in private legal practice, Hunter served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for six years. In 1988, he was one of eight lawmakers recognized by the Daily Oklahoman as “Oklahoma’s Best Legislators.”

Hunter served as general counsel of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state regulatory authority for public utilities, oil and gas, transportation and pipelines. He taught political science as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Oklahoma and at the University of Oklahoma.

Hunter received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma and his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University. He is married to Cheryl Plaxico Hunter, and they have two sons, Barrett and Brock.

The American Bankers Association represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the voice for the nation’s $13 trillion banking industry and its two million employees.   Learn more at aba.com.

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