Job Description
Smith & Wilkinson has been retained by Walden Mutual Bank to manage the search for the organization’s first Chief Ag Lending Officer.
Walden Mutual Bank is the first new mutual bank charter New England has issued in a generation (and the first in New Hampshire in more than 100 years). The Bank was founded with a vision towards becoming a long-term financial partner for sustainable food producers, manufacturers, sellers, brands, and community organizations. Its mission is “to enable anyone to make positive and lasting change in the ecosystems that sustain us, beginning with food.” Walden Mutual Bank is a mission-first organization, Certified Fossil-Fuel Free, and a Certified B Corp., allowing the bank to serve as a force for good with a long-term view of success and impact on its community.
Reporting directly to the CEO and partnering closely with the Chief Commercial Officer and SVP of Credit & Risk, the Chief Ag Lending Officer will play a critical leadership role in scaling the institution’s lending program while enabling and fulfilling its mission and culture. The CALO will oversee the full lending lifecycle while expanding the Bank’s presence across New England and New York, particularly within the food, agriculture, and natural resource sectors. Success in the role will require a balance of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, ensuring strong growth, disciplined credit practices, and a lasting impact on the communities the Bank serves.
We are seeking well-rounded commercial lending executives with experience in agriculture and food-related business lending for this entrepreneurial opportunity. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience leading and developing a lending team, a proven track record of new business development success, as well as strong commercial credit acumen and underwriting abilities. For a confidential conversation, please contact:
Julia Crouter, Consultant, Financial Services Practice (jcrouter@smithandwilkinson.com) or
Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner, Financial Services Practice (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com).