Evolve Bank & Trust announced that the board of directors has unanimously chosen Robert “Bob” Hartheimer as the bank’s next CEO, effective immediately.
“Appointing Bob Hartheimer as CEO marks a turning point for Evolve,” said Board Chairman Steve Valentine. “Bob was selected for his unmatched corporate experience in strategically navigating challenges at financial institutions and enabling banks to move past their regulatory challenges. He has the full backing of the Board to take decisive action, restore thoughtful innovation, and lead Evolve into a future defined by transparency and sustainable growth. This is a structural change, demonstrating our continued commitment to doing the hard work to earn back the trust of our customers, employees, regulators and investors.”
Hartheimer joins Evolve from advisory and investment firm Klaros, where he served as a Senior Advisor for companies seeking counsel on finance, innovation and regulation, particularly within the financial services and fintech sectors. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Compliance and Regulatory Officer and Co-Founder of Jasper, a credit card originator for customers with little or no credit history. He has also previously served as a bank and fintech regulatory consultant both on his own and as a Managing Director of Promontory Financial Group from 2002 until 2008.
“I believe in Evolve’s potential and am honored the Board gave me a clear mandate to protect what matters and grow the Bank into something stronger and more resilient,” said Hartheimer. “I have done this work before — restoring trust, working closely with regulators, and guiding institutions through periods of uncertainty. We will confront our challenges head-on, operate with transparency, and prioritize the stability and security of our customers, employees, and partners. This is our opportunity to reset — and to rise.”
President and Chief Financial Officer, Mark Mosteller, President of Open Banking Division, Hank Word and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Joelle Weltzin will remain in their roles and report to Bob.
“We are very grateful to the executive leadership team for their willingness to provide valuable stability, insightful ideas and continuity over the last few months,” said Valentine. “They are an integral part of the leadership team, and their contributions have helped strengthen the organization and our ability to serve our customers.”