J. Randolph Bryan Named COO of First Trust Corp.

Bryan was executive VP of sales at Capital One before joining First Trust.Randolph Bryan has served at financial institutions of all sizes. So when he began his transition from Hibernia National/Capital One to chief operating officer of First Trust Corp. ($800 million in assets; New Orleans), he knew his focus would need to be adjusted slightly.

"The biggest difference centers around resources," says Bryan, comparing his new and previous employers. "At a larger institution, there are simply more people available to get both tasks and projects done. However, a significant benefit of a smaller size is that you have to be laser-sharp in your focus. Sometimes the sheer volume of resources available to a larger institution can dilute that focus."

Just before joining First Trust, Bryan was executive VP of sales at Capital One. He is no stranger to technology, as he once led the IT function at Capital One. Yet, for all their differences, there are many technology-related similarities between First Trust and Capital One. "The challenges are much the same. ... The focus of technology in the financial services industry is to enhance the quality of service," Bryan remarks. "Technology allows us to expand delivery channels and be 'open for business' whenever the customer wishes."

And it looks like Bryan will be able to put his experience in helping to run a growing bank to work in his new role at First Trust. "The institution is in a transitional period and is becoming a larger company," he explains.