Richard N. Speer, Jr.
As Chairman, Richard N. Speer, Jr. is responsible for management of S&A’s worldwide consulting business and resources. He also manages major consulting assignments including: Board and governance development; overall financial institution strategic organizational and business planning engagements; merger and acquisition evaluations and integration; financial service retail / commercial customer, product and delivery system strategy development for major financial institutions, financial service providers, and processors in the U.S. and abroad.
As a result of his consulting efforts over the past twenty-eight years, Mr. Speer has directed or been involved in a wide range of engagements. These assignments vary from the development of overall Board and governance roles and responsibilities; strategic business and organizational plans; acquisitions and mergers for major banks in the U.S. and internationally; to major credit card issuer and acquirer strategic plans and acquisitions; to financial institution joint ventures development; to numerous financial service delivery system, overall payment strategies, and technology evaluations; and strategic plans for major transaction and e-commerce processors / providers.
Mr. Speer has assisted numerous clients in the development and implementation of broad-based and focused business strategies, as well as the business “turn around” of critical businesses. These engagements include the launching of new business ventures, acquisition, and divestiture of operating entities and portfolios, and the organizational, financial as well as resource requirements.
While he is often called upon for overall strategic planning for major financial institutions and their providers, Mr. Speer remains involved with specific projects including mergers / acquisition / consolidation, organizational / managerial assessments, delivery channel optimization projects, and payment system transaction processing strategies.
Prior to the formation of S&A in 1980, Mr. Speer was Senior Vice President in charge of American Express Payment Systems, Inc. (PSI) Consulting Division where he was responsible for managing consulting engagements worldwide. Before joining American Express, Mr. Speer held positions with three major banks at which he was at various times responsible for credit card project management, formation of a corporate cash management department, operations group management and financial services strategic planning.
Mr. Speer is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a highly regarded speaker on the Financial Services industry and its future in the U.S. and international markets. Known throughout the industry for his expertise, Mr. Speer is frequently quoted in leading publications.