JOHN HANLEY

Creative Catalyst

The catalyst CMO translates big vision into actual results in a short time – and I’ve sparked traditional and digital bank brands to new heights over 25 years in marketing.

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Meet John Ideas are easy.

Results are hard…

… But the creative process is sacred.

Your brand squares off with thousands of signals before it can to break through the noise. That moment is all you’ve got.

It’s the work to get to the moment that matters. True marketing leaders learn to focus on what actually drives behavior. The focus on audience. The relentless improvement to customer experience. The bold pitch, the razor-sharp creative, the siren call. Measuring twice, cutting once, and never being afraid of being bold.

I’ve spent my career leading marketing and customer experience in financial services and delivering real growth in a challenging industry: Low differentiation, high competition, and a lot of customer skepticism. Most recently, I’ve led and scaled a national digital bank with differentiated deposit growth in e-commerce and traditional channels, connecting acquisition, positioning, and customer experience.

The part of marketing, branding, and customer experience I enjoy most—and where I’m most effective—is the catalyst. I’m a creative change agent, who helps organizations unlock growth by aligning messages and teams to yield lasting, profitable customer relationships.

Want to chat about marketing, speaking, book publishing, or more? Contact John.

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The anticipation builds. Is your moment next?

Dynamic force for marketers

Speaker and Leader

For banks to grow, evolve, compete, and stay top of mind for their customers, it takes focus on differentiation and innovation. It takes digital expertise plus brand savvy and a commitment to identifying key values, messages and stories. Since 2017,I’ve served the ABA as a resource providing CX and marketing leadership for bank marketers from novice to pro. In 2023, John joined the ABA’s Bank Marketing School as board member, and instructor presenting “AI in Action.” He served as chair of the ABA’s annual bank marketing conference from 2020 through 2023, emcee in 2022 and 2023, and is on the board for the ABA Bank Marketing School, where I teach creative leadership and AI implementation. As the CMO for Equity Bank, I developed Brilliant Bank from concept to customer critical mass, and helped lead 10 whole-bank rebrands and customer communication efforts. I’ve digitally transformed three FIs during growth phases, including launches of online banking, mobile deposit, online account opening, customer experience, CRM and MCIF development strategies, and SEO and affiliate marketing. I didn’t do this alone. I’m proud to have built, led and challenged world-class marketing teams that power the creative spirit and innovative visions across boardrooms, sales teams, customer care centers to deliver powerful growth.

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The Creative Is Your Craft Marketing is Art.

With A Purpose.

Too often, CMOs rely on storytelling with no roadmap, random acts of media with no goal. Just as often, brands assume that hypertargeting or saturation can deliver the right prospect at the right moment. Before you know it, the moment is over. The best marketing catalyzes. It spurs interest from prospects and customers. It inspires fans and team members. And it lingers in memory, just waiting for the next moment. My background is writing. That’s how I started. That’s how I find the moment. That’s how I help brands and teams win. And it’s how I stay sharp.

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President, Board

Lawrence Humane Society

In 2018, I joined the board of the Lawrence Humane Society, a best-in-class midsize animal shelter in Lawrence, Kansas, which opened a state-of-the-art new facility in 2019 and has grown into a sustainable nonprofit and linchpin of the community. As President of LHS from 2021-2025, I helped the leadership team and the board align on a fundraising and growth strategy, while continuing to serve as a key ally for law enforcement and local leadership in the Lawrence community. LHS saves more than 5,000 animals a year (including Todd), and operates a sustainable budget of more than $2 million.

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Get In Touch

I’m eager to chat with you about marketing challenges, bank marketing, creative growth, dogs and cats or rock bands. You can also contact me with questions, media or speaking requests here.

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