Austin Adams Joins Cook Associates
Cook Associates Executive Search announced that Austin Adams – a 35-year veteran of the banking industry – has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor. He will support Cook's Financial Services & Insurance Practice, specializing in the identification, assessment and recruitment of information officers for complex financial services organizations.
Mr. Adams spent most of his career overseeing technology and operations during dramatic consolidation in the financial services industry. He retired in 2006 as Corporate Chief Information Officer of JPMorgan Chase, where he was responsible for technology and operations, as well as managing nearly 28,000 employees and a multi-billion-dollar budget. Mr. Adams took on that role following the merger of JPMorgan Chase and Bank One Corporation in 2004. Prior to the merger he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Bank One.
"Today, information officers are more critical than ever before due in large part to the rapidly changing global business economy and the proliferation of information resources," said Mary Kier, CEO of Cook Associates Executive Search. "With 35 years in banking – including more than two decades holding senior IT and technology roles – Austin is exceptionally qualified to provide Cook with expert advice on recruiting information officers. We are pleased to welcome him to the Cook team."
Mr. Adams will work closely with Kevin Parker, Managing Director and Head of the firm's Financial Services & Insurance Practice and Harry Wilson, Managing Director. "We have known and worked with Austin over the past twenty years and are pleased that he has joined our practice. His direct experience and insight into what it takes to operate at the CIO level in today's complex and global financial services industry is invaluable to our clients," said Mr. Parker.
Currently Mr. Adams serves on the board of directors of two public companies, Dun & Bradstreet and Spectra Energy, as well as on the board of Union National Bank Holdings, a private equity-owned bank. He is also a member of the board of trustees of Presbyterian College, and serves as a consultant to various financial services companies.
Mr. Adams earned both an M.B.A. and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Appalachian State University.