Geoff Cole
New York
Summary
Dynamic business builder with a proven track record of driving growth and fostering innovation within the financial services ecosystem.
Expertise in identifying market opportunities and implementing strategic initiatives that enhance growth, operational efficiency and profitability.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director, Independent Advisor Solutions
Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management
08.2023 - Current
- Led end-to-end product and partnership management with FinTech platforms and internal product teams to deliver alternative investments, managed accounts, payments/banking, lending and trust services through new independent advisor channel
- Sourced new business and structured strategic partnerships to attract assets and differentiate the platform through product availability and wealth advisor/client experience. (initial pipeline of $100Bn in AUM across 1000 advisors)
- Managed development of a comprehensive inventory of legal agreements and contracts to enable new Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) custody business and commercially viable partner relationships.
VP, Cross Business Initiatives
Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management
09.2020 - 07.2023
- Led optimization of legal entity and supervisory structure across bank and broker-dealer entities.
- Developed all program-related presentations for OCC/Federal Reserve and SEC/FINRA regulators.
- Drove strategy and business case for investing in independent advisor businesses, including buy vs. build, M&A, and strategic partnerships.
Experienced Senior Manager
Grant Thornton LLP
07.2018 - 05.2020
- Launched Mobius FinTech innovation hub to cultivate strategic partnerships, develop new products and solutions across the financial services ecosystem with focus on asset and wealth management digital transformation, banking/wealth platform convergence
- Drove strategic partnerships and investments pipeline from discovery and due diligence through contract and go-to-market.
- Recruited and trained a team of 10 data scientists, engineers, and analysts to facilitate and deliver design thinking and rapid prototyping workshops with partners and potential clients.
- Led development of proof-of-concept and thought leadership leveraging AI, distributed ledger, agentic workflows, and alternative data sources to improve client and advisor experiences.
US Market Lead, Business Consulting
base60 Consulting Ltd. (UK)
04.2017 - 06.2018
- Led go-to-market and business development for a new US consulting business focused on financial market infrastructure, asset/wealth management, and capital markets trading firms
- Cultivated and delivered on a project pipeline of $10M+ in annual consulting revenue by leveraging network of FinTech partners
- Led delivery of industry-wide projects in the areas of distributed ledger standards for derivatives markets (ISDA Common Domain Model) and equities post-trade processing (DTCC Institutional Trade Processing).
Director, Business Consulting
Sapient Global Markets Consulting
11.2010 - 04.2017
- NY Market Lead for Business Consulting managing multiple client relationships, projects and service offering to capital markets and asset/wealth management firms.
- Managed a portfolio of strategic investments in proprietary solutions and partnerships with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), distributed ledger, and data management for financial services use cases
- Led ideation, sales, marketing and delivery of service offerings for derivatives market regulatory change and asset/wealth management experiences.
- Facilitated annual business strategy and corporate planning sessions with the global markets leadership team.
The Capital Markets Company (Capco)
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Launched alternative investments consulting practice including negotiations and agreements for strategic partnership with Advent Geneva, leading to $5M+ in annual services revenues, joint go-to-market plans, shared pipeline management routines and product development
- Cultivated ecosystem and pipeline of strategic partnerships to expand addressable market for consulting offerings
CA Technologies (formerly Computer Associates)
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Business analyst supporting merger integrations and global SAP implementations for procurement, finance, and professional services functions.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Management
Binghamton University – School of Management
Binghamton, NY05.2003
Skills
- Strategic growth initiatives
- Partnerships & ecosystem development
- Contract negotiation
- Product innovation strategy
- Market launch strategies
- AI agent prototyping
Timeline
Executive Director, Independent Advisor Solutions
Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management
08.2023 - Current
VP, Cross Business Initiatives
Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management
09.2020 - 07.2023
Experienced Senior Manager
Grant Thornton LLP
07.2018 - 05.2020
US Market Lead, Business Consulting
base60 Consulting Ltd. (UK)
04.2017 - 06.2018
Director, Business Consulting
Sapient Global Markets Consulting
11.2010 - 04.2017
The Capital Markets Company (Capco)
01.2006 - 01.2010
CA Technologies (formerly Computer Associates)
01.2003 - 01.2006
Bachelor of Science - Management
Binghamton University – School of Management