University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking names president, CEO

Paul Katz was named president and CEO of the Graduate School of Banking/Prochnow Educational Foundation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. .Katz succeeds Kirby Davidson, who announced his retirement in October. Katz is expected to begin as president on June 1 and assume the CEO role when Davidson retires on Dec. 31..Katz has 25 years of experience in banking leadership, most recently as managing director and head of bank relations at Promontory MortgagePath in Danbury, Conn. He's also been an executive vice president of the State Association Alliance with the American Bankers Association. .Katz has a bachelor's degree from Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Md., and graduated from the Executive Leadership Program-Leadership for Extraordinary Performance at the University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business. .A national search managed by Madison-based The QTI Group resulted in applications from more than 300 candidates. An eight-person search committee included state association executives, banker alumni and faculty. The seven-month process included input from constituent groups including trustees, bankers, faculty and staff along with surveys and input from constituent groups. ."Paul will be an outstanding leader and intuitive thinker, who will help shape the school and its various in-person and online educational programs for years to come," said Randy Hultgren, chair of the GSB board of trustees. ."We are on the cusp of some major enhancements and additional offerings that, with Paul's background, will serve the school well in the years to come," Davidson added.