Byline Bancorp, Inc. announced the appointment of Steven P. Kent to the Boards of Directors of both Byline Bancorp and its subsidiary bank, Byline Bank, effective immediately.
Kent brings over 45 years of financial services industry experience to the Board.
“Steve has had a highly distinguished career as both a commercial banking executive and an investment banker focused on the financial services industry,” said Roberto Herencia, Chairman of Byline. “Steve’s expertise in M&A and capital management will be very valuable to the Board as we continue to execute on both our organic and acquisitive growth strategies to enhance the value of the Byline franchise. We are very pleased to welcome Steve and look forward to his added perspective and expertise at the Board level.”
Kent is Vice Chairman and a Managing Director of the Financial Services Group at Piper Jaffray Co., where he focuses on merger & acquisition advisory services and capital market transactions for financial services companies. Prior to joining Piper Jaffray in October 2015, Mr. Kent co-founded and served as President of River Branch Capital from March 2011 through its sale to Piper Jaffray in September 2015. At River Branch, Mr. Kent advised bank clients on capital management, equity recapitalizations, mergers & acquisitions and private equity investments.
Previously, Mr. Kent spent 13 years as a Managing Director and co-head of the Chicago office of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (“KBW”), investment bank and broker-dealer specializing in the financial services sector. Prior to joining KBW, Mr. Kent was an executive officer with Robert W. Baird and Co. for 16 years, where he led strategic planning, fixed income capital markets and structured finance, and he also headed the firm’s Financial Services Investment Banking practice. Mr.
Kent served as a member of Baird’s operating and capital commitment committees. Mr. Kent was also previously an executive officer at two Midwestern multi-bank holding companies focusing on strategic planning, bank and trust investment portfolio management, asset and liability management, and commercial and government guaranteed credit origination.
Kent has previously served as a director and member of the finance and nominating committees of IFF, a Midwest-focused Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which serves as a mission-driven lender, real estate consultant and developer that helps create opportunities for low-income communities and people with disabilities. In January 2019, Mr. Kent was elected to the board of Community Reinvestment Fund, USA, a CDFI with a national strategy headquartered in Minneapolis.