Highly experienced chairman, CEO, president, executive committee member, public and private company director and trustee for nonprofit organizations and national charitable foundations. Harvard University senior fellow in the highly acclaimed Advanced Leadership Initiative. Best-selling and award-winning author of Taking Stock 10 Life and Leadership Principles From My Seat at the Table.
30+ years of financial services experience in all facets of banking, wealth management, trading, investments, institutional asset management, asset servicing, retirement, retail and institutional brokerage, technology, client experience, and all corporate services. Recognized for the ability to drive outsized results by creating a compelling purpose and vision, building enterprise strategies, aligning resources, and executing the plan. Strong executive leadership and board credentials. A high energy, highly engaged servant leader who is committed to developing world class talent and successful organizations.
As former President of TD Ameritrade’s Retail business, Peter’s span of control was the strategic direction and support to more than 9MM retail investors with more than $650B in client assets. He led all facets of the Retail business including strategy; branches and sales; investor services; business analytics; client experience; digital, product, partnerships, and supervision & controls. de Silva led these groups through the successful integration of Scottrade Financial Services, including the conversion of $200B in Client assets and 3.9 million client accounts to TD Ameritrade following the company’s acquisition in September 2017. Peter was a member of the leadership team that sold TD Ameritrade to Charles Schwab. Peter served on TD Ameritrade’s executive team, the Senior Operating Committee, which shaped the strategic focus and direction of the organization.
Prior to joining TD Ameritrade, de Silva led the Retail and Institutional divisions for Scottrade Financial Services and served on the company’s board and executive leadership team. Before joining Scottrade in 2016, he was the president and chief operating officer of UMB Financial Corp from 2004 to 2015, and chairman and CEO of UMB Bank from 2004-2012. From 1987 to 2004, de Silva worked as an executive at Fidelity Investments, where he served in several leadership positions, including senior vice president/general manager of Fidelity Retail, and senior vice president of Fidelity Brokerage Company.
In January 2021, de Silva was appointed as a fellow (subsequently named senior fellow) in the highly acclaimed Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI). Peter spent eighteen months utilizing his deep leadership skills and passion for service to advance global social impact initiatives. He was elected by his cohort to serve as a member of the ALI Coalition Advisory Committee.
Peter has corporate board experience, in strategy, audit, operations, customer delivery, and risk management. de Silva is a qualified financial expert. He currently serves on the boards of IRALOGIX, Peter J. de Silva Chairman, CEO, president, director, executive committee member, national not for profit leader, Harvard University Senior Fellow, best-selling and awardwinning author, Doctor of Humane Letters Edelman Financial Engines, Infosel, Onepak, Prosper Marketplace, Inc., Fidelity Security Life Insurance and Fidelity Security Assurance Company.
de Silva currently serves on the nonprofit boards of the CMTRF Research Foundation, UMASS Dartmouth Foundation, and the Robert W. Plaster Charitable Foundation.
Peter’s prior nonprofit board service includes the National WWI Museum and Memorial, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (board chair), the United Way of Greater Kansas City (Campaign Committee Chair, Tocqueville Society Chair), Park University, the Kansas City Symphony, the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, the St. Louis regional Business Council, and Kansas City Public Television (KCPT). Mr. de Silva also served on the mayoral transition committee for Kansas City Mayor Sylvester James.
de Silva published his first book Taking Stock 10 Life and Leadership Principles From My Seat at the Table on March 23, 2023 to high acclaim by dominating eleven Amazon best-seller lists at its debut including in financial services, knowledge capital, and communication in management, and taking top ranking in eight other business management & leadership categories. The book also garnered top ranking on thirteen new release lists at its unveiling. Additionally, the book has received numerous literary awards including the Literary Titan Book Award, the Firebird Book Award and the 2023 Beach Book Festival Award in the business category.
de Silva currently holds FINRA Series 7 and 24 securities licenses and has passed the Securities Industry Essentials Examination.
Peter has been married to Michelle for over 33 years. Together they have two grown daughters. Peter’s hobbies include cycling, boating, history, politics, travel, fishing, reading, and leadership.
