Keith Banks, a top executive at Bank of America, will now serve as chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health board of trustees, the health system announced Wednesday morning.
Banks, a vice chair at BofA, has a long history of service to HMH, having previously served as vice chairman of the board and co-chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation board. Banks began his board service with Hackensack University Health Network in 2015, prior to the formation of Hackensack Meridian Health.
Frank Fekete, CPA, who served as chair since 2020 and oversaw major advances across the network, including the network’s coordinated and effective COVID-19 response, will now serve as immediate past chair.
Banks was one of a number of trustees announced, including:
- Kathleen Ellis: Vice chair. She is a retired chief operating officer at New Jersey Natural Gas.
- James Galeota: Secretary. He is the CEO of Kallyope.
- Peter Reinhart: Treasurer. He is executive vice president, mixed-use and land, R.J. Brunelli & Co.
Bob Garrett, the CEO of HMH who also sits on the board, was thrilled to announce the group.
“Hackensack Meridian Health is proud to announce our new board leaders, who will help New Jersey’s largest health network continue to transform the way health care is delivered,” he said. “We are excited to lean on the diverse experience and backgrounds of our board officers to help grow our organization, increasing access to high-quality, compassionate care here in New Jersey and beyond.”
Banks has worked in financial services for more than four decades. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University and his MBA in finance from Columbia Business School. In 2019, Banks was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
He said he is eager to get going.
“As New Jersey’s leading health network, Hackensack Meridian Health is building healthier communities across the region,” he said. “I look forward to working with Bob Garrett and my fellow board leaders to help strengthen the network and elevate Hackensack Meridian Health to even greater success.”
Garrett thanks Fekete for his efforts.
“I would like to thank Frank Fekete for his incredible service to our organization, which oversaw the growth and transformation of the network, as well as our response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “I am confident that Keith Banks and our board leaders will continue to steer our network toward innovative strategies, operational excellence, financial strength and enhanced patient care.”
