Chief Member Engagement Officer

Chief Member Engagement Officer

The American Bankers Association (ABA), the voice of the nation’s banking industry, seeks a strategic, growth-oriented leader to serve as its next Chief Member Engagement Officer (CMEO). Reporting directly to President & CEO Rob Nichols, the CMEO will lead ABA’s strategy to grow membership, deepen engagement, and strengthen the value delivered to member banks.  

ABA represents banks of all sizes, charters, and geographies and serves as the leading advocate for the banking industry in Washington. Its mission depends on attracting, retaining, and engaging member institutions while ensuring member banks have access to the products, services, insights, and relationships they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving environment.

The CMEO will play a pivotal leadership role in shaping how ABA delivers value to its members.  The executive will align strategy, outreach, and execution to deepen engagement, strengthen membership penetration, and support ABA’s advocacy and business objectives. 

The role also carries significant operational and fiduciary responsibility, including oversight of an annual budget of more than $90 million and accountability for strong financial stewardship and long-term revenue growth in support of ABA’s advocacy priorities and long-term success.

The CMEO leads ABA’s Office of Member Engagement, a division of approximately 135 professionals responsible for a variety of business lines including membership, member experience, business intelligence, products and services, training, conferences, schools and strategic partner relationships. 

As the banking industry navigates consolidation, evolving economic and political dynamics, and the growing influence of technology and AI, the CMEO will help strategically position ABA for the future and adapt to best serve member needs.  

Key Responsibilities

• Lead ABA’s strategy to recruit, retain, and engage member institutions across all segments of the banking industry.
• Oversee ABA’s integrated portfolio of products, services, partnerships, training, conferences, schools, and events ensuring ABA delivers a clear and differentiated value proposition to member banks.
• Drive sustainable growth in both dues and non-dues revenue while maintaining disciplined oversight of the division’s $90M+ budget and overall financial performance.
• Provide strategic and organizational leadership for ABA’s Office of Member Engagement fostering excellence in professional growth, accountability, collaboration and continuing to develop a high-performing team.
• Serve as a member of the CEO Leadership Team, contributing to enterprise-wide strategy, organizational priorities and long-term planning and initiatives.
• Foster strong collaboration across all other ABA divisions to align member strategy with advocacy objectives, policy initiatives, and evolving industry needs.
  
• Engage directly with member banks and industry stakeholders to create and maintain strong relationships to help anticipate emerging issues and market trends, and ensure ABA remains forward-looking and responsive.  

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be an accomplished executive with deep banking or financial services experience and a demonstrated track record of leading large, complex teams and revenue-generating operations. Candidates should bring exceptional relationship management, strategic leadership, communication, and team development skills, along with the ability to engage effectively with senior banking leaders and industry stakeholders.  

Qualified candidates will possess:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 20+ years of relevant professional experience, including significant senior executive leadership experience.
• Experience with P&L oversight, membership or customer engagement strategy, and large-scale team leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading and growing complex revenue-generating organizations, including responsibility for developing and executing strategies that drive both dues and non-dues revenue growth across diverse products, services, partnerships, and member engagement initiatives.
• Strong financial acumen, operational leadership, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking leadership style with the ability to drive innovation and organizational alignment.

Target Compensation for the role:

Salary range:
$485,000 –521,215 - $620,000

Salary Band Range:
$327,600 - $485,000 - $644,280

For all inquiries, nominations, or expressions of interest—including candidates wishing to apply—please contact [email protected].