Cross River Appointed Evan L. Russo as President
The U.S.-chartered bank has tapped the former Lazard Asset Management CEO to support its international expansion plans.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Financial Services
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Cross River has appointed Evan L. Russo to serve as President of the firm. Russo will work alongside CEO Gilles Gade to drive the bank's efforts to grow its presence in international markets.
Why it matters
The hire is part of a broader push to scale the bank's platform and bolster its institutional capabilities for the next generation of financial services. Cross River intends to leverage Russo's background in global finance to support these growth objectives.
Cross River maintains partnerships with more than 100 technology firms to provide banking infrastructure services. The firm is currently scaling its platform to enhance its institutional capabilities.
The players
Evan L. Russo
He is the newly appointed President of Cross River who previously served as CEO of Lazard Asset Management.
Gilles Gade
He is the CEO of Cross River and will partner with the new president to guide the firm's growth.
Cross River
This is a U.S.-chartered bank that provides financial infrastructure services, including payments, credit, and digital assets.
The details
Russo brings extensive experience in strategic mergers and acquisitions, financial transactions, and restructuring to his new role. He previously held leadership positions at Lazard Asset Management, Lazard Ltd., Lazard Group, Goldman Sachs, and Barclays Capital.
Timeline
Evan L. Russo joined the Cross River board of directors in April 2026.
The appointment of Evan L. Russo as President became effective October 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
The move aligns with the broader industry trend of banking-as-a-service infrastructure providers consolidating leadership talent to secure market share. It positions Cross River to compete more aggressively in the global digital asset and payments ecosystem.
The appointment signals a shift in the bank's operational priorities that could influence the availability and range of financial infrastructure services for its technology firm partners. Customers of those platforms may see new features as the bank scales its institutional offerings.
The takeaway
The addition of an executive with experience at major financial institutions suggests that Cross River is prioritizing institutional credibility during its next growth phase. Partner companies and institutional clients should expect a push toward greater scalability as the bank pursues global reach.
Further reading
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