BMO and CapIntel announce US leadership moves as Canadian wealth firms accelerate cross-border growth
Two Canadian-rooted financial firms are deepening their commitment to the United States market this month, underscoring broader ambition that is reshaping the North American wealth management landscape.
BMO taps a 15-year veteran to lead its US franchise
Bank of Montreal named Tim Cox as U.S. Country Head of BMO Financial Group, effective November 1, 2026, in a move that signals the bank's continued investment in its cross-border operations.
Cox joined BMO in 2010 and has held senior roles across legal and regulatory compliance, most recently serving as U.S. General Counsel since 2022.In his new role, he will serve as CEO of both BMO Financial Corp. and BMO Bank N.A., report directly to BMO Group CEO Darryl White, and chair the U.S. Management Committee.
His appointment follows the planned retirement of Darrel Hackett, who will transition to Executive Vice-Chair and Senior Advisor after more than two decades with the bank.
White described Cox as a leader whose grasp of BMO's business and its governance architecture makes him well placed to oversee the U.S. franchise.
Cox's background in regulatory compliance is relevant at a moment when US financial institutions face heightened scrutiny from federal regulators. BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of July 31, 2026.
BMO's U.S. presence - built partly through its 2023 acquisition of Bank of the West - gives it a retail and wealth platform that advisors can leverage for clients with U.S.-based holdings, real estate, or family members.
Hackett's departure, meanwhile, closes a chapter at BMO. Having spent more than 22 years with the bank, he was a central figure in BMO's U.S. expansion strategy, and his transition to an advisory capacity suggests the bank is managing succession deliberately rather than abruptly.
CapIntel builds its New York team
On the wealthtech side, Toronto-based CapIntel has announced five leadership appointments as it accelerates its push into the U.S. market.
The B2B platform, which helps financial advisors build compliant, data-driven investment presentations, now supports more than two million investors across North America and was ranked No. 11 on the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 - a measure of revenue growth.
The hires are concentrated in New York, signalling where CapIntel sees its near-term growth. Amanda Billark was promoted internally from Vice President of Design to Senior Vice President of Product & Design, a recognition of her role in building CapIntel's product function since June 2023.
Four external hires join her: Aleksey Lakchakov as Vice President of Finance, drawing on experience at Citi and DISCO; Grace Hsieh as Head of Marketing, arriving from Farther, a U.S. wealth platform; Michael Hogg as Head of Partnerships & Market Intelligence, a former financial advisor who has held roles at Vanguard and EY; and Jean Choi as Lead Product Manager, with a background at J.P. Morgan and EY.
CapIntel's platform is designed to assist advisors in presenting their value and investment philosophy through streamlined presentations. Founder and CEO James Rockwood framed the hires as essential to the company's next phase.
"As we grow in the U.S., the right leadership will determine how far we can take that mission," he said. "This group brings deep experience across wealth management, banking, and fintech, and they share our conviction that clarity builds trust."
CapIntel's Canadian roots run deep. Since it was founded in 2017, CapIntel has grown to accommodate advisors on its platform and has established strategic partnerships with major Canadian wealth institutions. Its partnerships have included Canada Life, Richardson Wealth, and Aviso Wealth, building a significant Canadian advisory base before turning its attention south. Strategic partnerships with FactSet and EY have further strengthened its market credibility ahead of the U.S. push.
A pattern worth watching
Canadian financial firms - whether major banks or growth-stage fintech companies - are treating the U.S. as an active growth frontier.
RBC Wealth Management's David Agnew has argued that the complex cross-border lives of Canadian high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients favour firms with major presences in both the U.S. and Canada. The same logic applies in reverse: as Canadian wealthtech and financial institutions build out their U.S. operations, advisors here stand to benefit from platforms and capabilities that are stress-tested in both markets.
The question for advisors is not whether to pay attention to these moves, but how to integrate them into their client conversations - particularly for those managing assets, estates, or family structures that straddle the border.
