The CRO & Risk COO Community
Financial Services Chief Risk Officers and the Risk COO, Compliance Heads, and Operational Risk Leaders
In 2024, Armstrong Wolfe and Global Economics Group launched the CRO & Risk COO Community, a dedicated platform aimed at addressing the unique needs of Chief Risk Officers (CROs) and Risk COOs within global financial services institutions.
The financial services sector faces a multitude of challenges, including:
- Degrading macroeconomic conditions
- Increased regulatory scrutiny
- Monetary tightening
- Climate risk
- Workforce disruptions
- The imperative to harness advanced technologies like generative AI
These issues cannot be fully addressed in isolation. CROs are often at the forefront of identifying innovative responses to these complex and interconnected challenges.
About the Community
The CRO & Risk COO Community brings together industry risk executives, leaders, consultants, and technology providers to provide insights and thought leadership tailored to the needs of CROs, Risk COOs, and their organizations.
Focused on financial, non-financial, and operational challenges, the community facilitates engagement through virtual sessions, roundtables, and in-person events. By working collaboratively, members identify critical issues, develop solutions, and shape strategic responses.
Why Join the CRO & Risk COO Community?
- Peer Connection: Engage with senior executives across peer organizations to discuss and debate common challenges facing the financial services industry.
- Industry Insights: Gain access to an ecosystem of experts, including advisors, solution providers, and thought leaders. These collaborations produce practical strategies that cut through the noise of today’s crowded solution environment.
- Global Reach and Diversity of Thought: The community includes representatives from all major geographies and a variety of institutions, such as G-SIBs, regional banks, broker-dealers, and specialist providers, fostering robust and diverse discussions.
- Value: Your participation delivers long-term value through high-quality relationships, knowledge-sharing, and actionable insights.
2025 Agenda
Our 2025 agenda addresses the most pressing issues across the community, including:
- Capital and Liquidity Management: With heightened attention on available capital, institutions are focusing on protecting against adverse conditions while optimizing returns in an environment shaped by higher interest rates and new regulations, including the Basel III endgame and regional tailoring rules (e.g., U.S. regulations).
- Client Profitability: As industry performance lags behind other sectors, financial institutions must strategically prioritize clients offering the greatest profit potential. Optimizing service delivery is critical to maximizing capital returns to shareholders.
- Data, Analytics, and AI: Advances in data processing and artificial intelligence, including generative AI, enable institutions to deliver more customized products and services while balancing risk and return.
- Culture and Conduct: Institutions face increased pressure to measure, monitor, and ensure that their culture and conduct align with their mission, vision, core values, and regulatory requirements.
- Non-Financial Risks: As new risks emerge, institutions must define, govern, and manage them effectively. This includes addressing evergreen issues such as financial crime, operational risks, and the optimization of non-financial risk management frameworks.
“I have worked alongside Armstrong Wolfe and its leadership since 2016. In this time, I have witnessed the confidence its members have in its leadership, being trusted partner. The haven for debate has created a sustainable partnership where common challenges are met, and a reliable network can be leveraged by all. I am delighted to be continuing this relationship with the Global Economics Group”.
Chris Rigg
Principal, Global Economics Group
“Having benefited firsthand as an industry participant in the Armstrong Wolfe International COO community, I’m excited to now play a part in the establishment of the COO Risk and Compliance Community. Throughout my career, opportunities to come together with industry peers to regularly exchange ideas and experiences on the more challenging topics of the day, along with the lasting relationships made, has been invaluable. I look forward to the continued strengthening of our profession through this important forum.”
Marc Walby
Armstrong Wolfe Advisor to this Community
