Michael Shepherd

Michael Shepherd was named interim chief executive officer and president of Discover Financial Services in April 2024, having previously been elected to the Discover board of directors in August 2023. Before joining Discover, Michael joined BancWest and Bank of the West in 2004 and served as General Counsel, President and Chairman and CEO. Michael also served as the Chairman of BNP Paribas USA, Inc. and as a Director. Bank of the West was acquired by BMO in February of 2023. Before joining Bank of the West, Michael was General Counsel of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. and of Shawmut National Corporation. He served in government as Senior Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, Associate Counsel to the President of the United States and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Michael is also a director of Pacific Mutual Holdings Inc., and previously was a director of First Hawaiian Inc. and CoreLogic. He is a member of the Dean’s Council at the National Cathedral in Washington, the Business Executive Council of the University of California, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Michael previously served as a Member and President of the Federal Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board, as a Member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion, as a director of the Presidio Trust, and as a Director of The Clearing House.

Michael Shepherd is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of the West and of BancWest Corporation, the parent company of Bank of the West and First Hawaiian Bank. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of BNP Paribas Retail Banking.Shepherd was President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of the West from 2008-2010, having served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2006. In April 2009, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of BancWest Corporation. Shepherd joined the bank in 2004 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel.Before joining Bank of the West, Shepherd served as General Counsel of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. and of Shawmut National Corporation. He was a partner in the San Francisco law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP and Special Counsel to Sullivan & Cromwell. Shepherd also served in government as Senior Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, Associate Counsel to the President of the United States and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. In addition to serving as Chairman of Bank of the West and BancWest Corporation, Shepherd is a director of First Hawaiian Bank, Pacific Mutual Holding Company, Pacific Life Insurance Company and Promontory Interfinancial Network and is a member of the Advisory Board of FTV Capital. He is active in community affairs, including current service as a Member of the Federal Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board, Member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion, Director of Operation HOPE, Member of the Executive Committee of the Bay Area Council, Member of the Stanford Athletic Board and Director of the Financial Services Roundtable. Shepherd served as a Director of the Presidio Trust from May 2008 to July 2012. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. 

Shepherd is a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Michigan Law School.