True's New Banking Practice
True strengthens financial services capabilities, hiring Jeremy Zeman to lead new banking practice.
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True, the world's sixth-largest executive search firm, launched a new Consumer and Commercial Banking Practice on June 23, 2026 — and named 25-year industry veteran Jeremy Zeman to run it. Business Wire reported the appointment, calling Zeman's arrival a direct response to surging demand for banking leaders who can navigate AI, new regulations, and digital transformation.
Zeman, who previously led practices at Korn Ferry, Caldwell, Heidrick & Struggles, and CTPartners, will serve as Managing Director. The new practice covers money-center banks, regional banks, and consumer finance companies. True currently generates over $350 million in annual revenue, according to Hunt Scanlon Media.
Zeman Steps In at a Critical Moment for Banking
Zeman did not mince words about why the timing matters. "Banking is at an inflection point," he said, "and the talent decisions institutions make right now will define and impact the next decade." Business Wire carried the full statement. His hire signals that True sees a gap in the market — one that legacy firms have been slow to fill.
True CEO Brad Stadler backed the hire strongly. "Jeremy is the right person to lead it," Stadler said. "His relationships and track record in this market are exceptional, and his arrival gives our clients a genuine edge," according to Yahoo Finance. Stadler co-founded True in 2012, originally as a boutique tech-focused firm.
AI Rules and New Laws Are Reshaping Who Banks Need to Hire
Two major regulatory shifts hit the banking world in early 2026. The EU's DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) and the EU AI Act both took effect, creating a mismatch between old-school talent pipelines and the new skills regulators now demand from C-suite leaders, according to MSH Talent.
At the same time, 99% of financial services leaders say they feel vulnerable to disruption, per research from Hanover. Banks are scrambling to find executives who understand agentic AI and cloud-native platforms. IT spending at banks is projected to grow between 6.5% and 10.7% per year through 2028, according to PwC.
True's Rapid Rise Sets the Stage for This Push
True has grown fast. In March 2025, it posted a 15.1% growth rate — the highest among the top 10 global search firms — according to Business Wire. Then in November 2025, private equity firm Integrum Holdings LP made a strategic investment in True (the amount was not disclosed). Former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns joined the True board as part of that deal, per Hunt Scanlon Media.
The banking practice launch is not a one-off hire. True added three new finance-focused partners in April 2026 and brought on Vice Chairman Adam Kovach in February 2026. The global executive search market is worth an estimated $64 billion in 2026, with a projected annual growth rate of 10.11% through 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence.
Regional Banks Face the Biggest Talent Gap
Mid-size and regional banks — those under $100 billion in assets — are expected to benefit most from True's new practice. These institutions struggle most with AI-driven errors and building digital-ready leadership teams, according to McDermott + Bull. They often lack the in-house resources to run a national executive search on their own.
The talent crunch is real. Private credit funds are already poaching risk managers away from traditional banks with salary bumps of up to 40%, per MSH Talent. Over 1,400 financial institutions are now connected to the Federal Reserve's FedNow real-time payments system, all needing leaders who understand the new payments landscape.
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