Chief Credit Officer (CCO) – Commercial Lending

Position Summary

The Chief Credit Officer (CCO) – Commercial Lending is responsible for establishing and overseeing the credit risk management framework for the commercial lending portfolio. The CCO provides strategic leadership for credit underwriting, portfolio management, credit policy, risk governance, and loan administration while ensuring the organization maintains a balanced approach between growth, profitability, and risk management.

The role serves as the senior executive responsible for the quality, performance, and integrity of the commercial credit portfolio and plays a critical role in protecting the institution's asset quality and capital position.

Key Responsibilities

Credit Strategy & Governance

Develop and implement the organization's commercial credit strategy aligned with overall business objectives.

Establish and maintain credit risk appetite, lending standards, and credit governance frameworks.

Lead the development and periodic review of credit policies, procedures, and underwriting guidelines.

Ensure consistency in credit decision-making across all lending segments.

Provide independent credit oversight and challenge to business line decisions.

Commercial Credit Risk Management

Oversee credit risk across commercial lending portfolios, including:

Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Lending

Commercial Real Estate (CRE)

Corporate Banking

Middle Market Lending

Small Business Lending

Specialized Industry Lending

Syndicated and Structured Finance Transactions

Monitor portfolio quality, concentrations, and emerging credit risks.

Implement risk mitigation strategies and portfolio diversification initiatives.

Conduct stress testing and scenario analysis on lending portfolios.

Credit Underwriting & Approval

Oversee commercial underwriting standards and credit approval processes.

Chair or participate in senior credit committees.

Review and approve large, complex, or high-risk lending transactions.

Ensure robust financial analysis, risk assessment, and covenant structures.

Maintain disciplined credit approval and exception management practices.

Portfolio Management & Asset Quality

Monitor portfolio performance, delinquency trends, and credit quality indicators.

Oversee criticized and classified asset management programs.

Develop strategies to manage problem loans and workout situations.

Ensure timely identification and escalation of deteriorating credit exposures.

Monitor sector, geographic, and borrower concentration risks.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance

Ensure compliance with banking regulations, lending laws, and regulatory guidance.

Coordinate credit examinations and regulatory reviews.

Maintain strong relationships with regulators, auditors, and external stakeholders.

Ensure appropriate documentation, controls, and governance standards.

Credit Analytics & Reporting

Develop portfolio reporting, risk dashboards, and management information systems.

Monitor key credit metrics and portfolio trends.

Present credit risk assessments and recommendations to executive leadership and the Board.

Support capital planning and allowance methodologies.

Oversee portfolio stress testing and risk modeling activities.

Special Assets & Remediation

Lead strategies for managing distressed assets and workout portfolios.

Oversee restructuring, recovery, and collection activities.

Coordinate with legal, restructuring, and external advisory teams.

Minimize losses and maximize recoveries on non-performing assets.

Leadership & Talent Development

Lead and develop commercial credit teams and senior credit professionals.

Promote a culture of sound credit judgment and risk discipline.

Mentor future credit leaders and support succession planning.

Foster collaboration between risk, lending, operations, legal, and compliance functions.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Banking, or a related discipline.

Master's degree (MBA, Finance, Economics, or Risk Management) preferred.

Professional Certifications

Preferred certifications include:

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Financial Risk Manager (FRM)

Credit Risk Certification (CRC)

Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)

Experience

15+ years of commercial banking and credit risk management experience.

Significant experience managing large commercial lending portfolios.

Proven track record in credit underwriting, portfolio management, and risk governance.

Experience chairing or serving on senior credit committees.

Strong understanding of regulatory expectations and commercial banking practices.

Experience managing complex credit structures and distressed assets.

Technical Competencies

Commercial Credit Risk Management

Credit Underwriting

Portfolio Risk Management

Commercial Real Estate Lending

Corporate Banking

Financial Statement Analysis

Cash Flow & Debt Service Analysis

Credit Structuring

Risk Rating Methodologies

Problem Loan Management

Loan Review & Quality Assurance

Credit Policy Development

Stress Testing & Scenario Analysis

Regulatory Compliance

Credit Risk Analytics

Leadership Competencies

Strategic Leadership

Risk-Based Decision Making

Executive Presence

Credit Judgment

Stakeholder Management

Negotiation & Influence

Problem Solving

Team Development

Governance & Oversight

Change Management

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Non-Performing Loan (NPL) Ratio

Net Charge-Off Ratio

Credit Loss Rate

Portfolio Risk Rating Distribution

Commercial Loan Growth

Portfolio Concentration Levels

Recovery Rates on Problem Assets

Regulatory Examination Results

Credit Approval Turnaround Time

Risk Appetite Compliance