Trevor Montano
About Trevor Montano
Trevor Montano (age 46) joined the Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. (BRBS) Board in May 2024; he is Founder and Managing Member of West Potomac Capital LLC, a financial-services-focused investment firm, and previously served as Chief Investment Officer at the U.S. Department of the Treasury (2014–2017) managing TARP investments (~$5B, ~100 institutions). He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, a business degree from George Mason University, and is a CFA charterholder; he also serves on the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees and is a member of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. . He is an independent director and serves on the Audit Committee, designated by the Board as an “audit committee financial expert.” .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Department of the Treasury | Chief Investment Officer (TARP) | 2014–2017 | Managed ~$5B portfolio (~100 institutions), largely wound down over three years . |
| Various advisory/banking roles | Investment banking and portfolio management (financial services) | ~20 years | Completed >30 strategic M&A and capital raising transactions totaling >$35B . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Focus/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Potomac Capital LLC | Founder & Managing Member | Current | Investment management focused on financial services and sustainable finance . |
| George Mason University Foundation, Inc. | Trustee | Current | Board of Trustees member . |
| Economic Club of Washington, D.C. | Member | Current | Membership noted . |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined 12 of 13 members are independent; Montano is independent (CEO Beale is not) .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; designated “audit committee financial expert” .
- Attendance: In 2024, each director then serving attended >75% of combined Board and committee meetings; BRBS Board met 15 times (Company) and 12 times (Bank) in 2024; Audit Committee met 14 times .
- Leadership context: Chairman of the Board is Vance H. Spilman; Vice Chairman is William W. Stokes (non-management chair structure) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees earned or paid in cash (2024) | $47,183 | Montano joined in May 2024; partial-year compensation; no stock awards in 2024 . |
| Annual director retainer (schedule) | $64,000 (standard); $71,500 (committee chair); $74,000 (Audit Chair); $100,000 (Board Chair) | Paid monthly . |
| Committee retainers (annual) | Audit $5,600; Enterprise Risk $5,600; Compensation $3,600; Governance $2,500; Compliance $2,000; BRB Financial Group board $2,000 | Additional to director retainer . |
| Retainer stock election | Available; five directors elected to receive a portion in common stock | Market value based on closing price on issuance date . |
Performance Compensation
- Director equity awards (2024): Montano received no director stock awards; certain other directors received restricted stock that fully vests April 30, 2025 contingent on ≥75% attendance over the 12-month period ending that date .
- Performance metrics: No director performance-based compensation metrics disclosed for Montano .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Public company directorships | None disclosed for Montano . |
| Investor designation rights | Castle Creek may designate two board members while holding ≥9.9% common; if ownership thresholds fall, designation rights may shift; Lehman may designate one member while holding ≥4.9%—Montano is identified as Mr. Lehman’s board representative . |
| Major shareholders | Kenneth R. Lehman (30.68%), Castle Creek Capital Partners VIII L.P. (18.48%), BlackBarn Capital Master Fund (7.40%), AB Financial Services Opportunities Master Fund (7.14%) . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Corporate finance and capital markets: 20 years in investment banking/portfolio management; >30 strategic transactions totaling >$35B .
- Regulatory/government: Treasury CIO overseeing TARP assets; regulatory and governance insights .
- Credentials: MBA (Columbia), CFA charterholder; business degree (George Mason) .
- Audit and financial reporting: Audit Committee service; “audit committee financial expert” designation .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Montano | 618,490 | <1% | Includes a currently exercisable warrant to purchase 216,836 common shares . |
Insider Trades
| Date | Security | Quantity/Terms | Consideration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2024 | Common | 14,284.76 shares | Included in ~$0.6M aggregate purchase | Part of private placements; Montano purchased common, Series B pref, and warrants . |
| Apr 3, 2024 | Series B Preferred | ~56.84 shares | $10,000/share | Mandatorily convertible; Series B automatically converted into common on June 28, 2024 (company-wide) . |
| Apr 3, 2024 | Warrant (Series B Pref) | Warrant to purchase ~30.35 pref shares | $10,000/share exercise price | Series B warrants converted into warrants to purchase common on June 28, 2024 (company-wide) . |
| Late filing | — | One Form 4 filed late (July 2024) | — | Company disclosed Montano’s late Form 4 in 2024 . |
Equity Ownership Alignment and Policies
- Ownership guidelines: Not disclosed for directors; overall stock ownership table provided (see above) .
- Hedging policy: Company states it does not have practices or policies restricting employees or directors from hedging transactions; no formal anti-hedging prohibition disclosed .
- Insider trading policy: Company maintains a policy governing directors, officers, and employees .
Related-Party Exposure and Potential Conflicts
- Private placements: Montano purchased shares, preferred stock, and warrants in April 2024; his father (James Montano) also purchased common, Series B pref, and warrants; an investor whose account Montano managed purchased similar securities—introducing potential related-party and fiduciary considerations .
- Designation by major shareholder: Montano serves as Mr. Lehman’s board representative under designation rights tied to ownership thresholds, which can create perceived influence/interlock risk in governance matters .
Governance Assessment
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Positives: Independent director; Audit Committee member and financial expert; strong finance/regulatory background; 2024 attendance >75%; direct “skin-in-the-game” through meaningful personal investment in BRBS securities .
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Watch items/RED FLAGS:
- Late Section 16 filing: One late Form 4 in July 2024—procedural compliance lapse to monitor .
- Related-party transactions: Purchases by Montano, his father, and an investor whose account he managed in the same financing round; ensure robust Board/Committee oversight and recusal for any decisions touching these interests .
- Investor designation dynamics: Board seat linkage to major shareholder ownership thresholds can heighten perceived influence; Board should demonstrate independence and robust conflict review processes .
- Hedging policy gap: Absence of a formal anti-hedging policy for directors/employees can weaken alignment; investors may prefer explicit prohibitions to protect incentive integrity .
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Overall implication: Montano adds valuable capital markets and regulatory expertise to the Audit Committee with strong alignment via personal investment, but governance confidence depends on strict adherence to conflict management, timely insider reporting, and strengthening of anti-hedging controls .