About Me
Armel R. Kouassi is Senior Vice President and Global Head at Northern Trust, a leading global financial services firm. In his role, Armel is responsible for optimizing balance sheets, managing financial risks, generate growth, earnings and driving portfolio performance across Northern Trust’s diverse business lines. With a focus on wealth management, asset servicing, and fiduciary services, Northern Trust serves institutional investors and high net-worth individuals worldwide. Armel’s leadership philosophy blends transformational and servant leadership, with an emphasis on resilience, ethical decision-making, and creating a balanced, values-driven culture where teams can thrive. Throughout his career, Armel has garnered extensive experience across banking, corporate finance, fintech, and financial risk management. Having held senior roles at major institutions such as State Street Corporation, M&T Bank, Citi, and GE Capital, Armel has built a comprehensive understanding of global finance. His entrepreneurial spirit and senior banking experience have allowed him to lead across multiple sectors in the U.S., Europe, and Africa. Armel is deeply committed to community involvement and philanthropy. He is a passionate advocate for economic empowerment, the arts, and music and serves on the board of the Edmond Town Hall Theater, cultural landmark that enriches the lives of Connecticut residents. Board of Directors of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut. He serves on the board of the scholars of finance, an organization on a mission to inspire character and integrity in the young finance leaders of tomorrow. He serves in the FinTech Advisory Board for the Center for Financial Professionals. Armel was named Presidential Leadership Scholar 2023 as a bold, principled and visionary leaders in US making a difference in the world; and learning the presidential leadership of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations. Outside of work, Armel is a father of three daughters, a private pilot and enjoys lifelong learning, supporting youth leadership, and promoting ethical leadership in the financial sector. Armel’s educational background includes an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an Master in Management from the ESCP Business School, France, and a certificate in alternative investments from Harvard Business School. He also holds an Engineer Degree Statistics & Macroeconomics (I.S.E.) from Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d'Economie Appliquée, Ivory Coast.
My Leadership Philosophy
When asked about his approach to leadership, Armel had this to say:
“With more than two decades of experience across banking, corporate finance, fintech, and financial risk management, I have seen firsthand what leaders must bring to the table to find success. My leadership philosophy blends transformational and servant leadership, emphasizing sustainable growth, ethical decision-making, and a balanced, values-driven culture. As the banking sector becomes increasingly fast-paced and less human, we need empathetic and ethical leaders who can establish effective guardrails and capture the skills, talent, and expertise companies need to succeed.
While I’ve learned a great deal from my industry experience, many of the most important leadership lessons I’ve learned come from outside of the business world. From an early age, my father taught me the importance of hard work, grace, determination, and kindness. He also helped me appreciate the importance of a good work-life balance and that what makes someone a good person is key to being a good leader. These are lessons that I carry with me
every day, and they have informed my goals of promoting ethical financial practices, building resilience in the face of challenges, and empowering future leaders to meet their full potential.
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This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
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This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors. This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors. This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Lorem Ipsum
This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors. This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors. This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
About Me
Armel R. Kouassi is Senior Vice President and Global Head at Northern Trust, a leading global financial services firm. In his role, Armel is responsible for optimizing balance sheets, managing financial risks, generate growth, earnings and driving portfolio performance across Northern Trust’s diverse business lines. With a focus on wealth management, asset servicing, and fiduciary services, Northern Trust serves institutional investors and high net-worth individuals worldwide. Armel’s leadership philosophy blends transformational and servant leadership, with an emphasis on resilience, ethical decision-making, and creating a balanced, values-driven culture where teams can thrive. Throughout his career, Armel has garnered extensive experience across banking, corporate finance, fintech, and financial risk management. Having held senior roles at major institutions such as State Street Corporation, M&T Bank, Citi, and GE Capital, Armel has built a comprehensive understanding of global finance. His entrepreneurial spirit and senior banking experience have allowed him to lead across multiple sectors in the U.S., Europe, and Africa. Armel is deeply committed to community involvement and philanthropy. He is a passionate advocate for economic empowerment, the arts, and music and serves on the board of the Edmond Town Hall Theater, cultural landmark that enriches the lives of Connecticut residents. Board of Directors of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut. He serves on the board of the scholars of finance, an organization on a mission to inspire character and integrity in the young finance leaders of tomorrow. He serves in the FinTech Advisory Board for the Center for Financial Professionals. Armel was named Presidential Leadership Scholar 2023 as a bold, principled and visionary leaders in US making a difference in the world; and learning the presidential leadership of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations. Outside of work, Armel is a father of three daughters, a private pilot and enjoys lifelong learning, supporting youth leadership, and promoting ethical leadership in the financial sector. Armel’s educational background includes an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an Master in Management from the ESCP Business School, France, and a certificate in alternative investments from Harvard Business School. He also holds an Engineer Degree Statistics & Macroeconomics (I.S.E.) from Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d'Economie Appliquée, Ivory Coast.
About Me
Armel R. Kouassi is Senior Vice President and Global Head at Northern Trust, a leading global financial services firm. In his role, Armel is responsible for optimizing balance sheets, managing financial risks, generate growth, earnings and driving portfolio performance across Northern Trust’s diverse business lines. With a focus on wealth management, asset servicing, and fiduciary services, Northern Trust serves institutional investors and high net-worth individuals worldwide. Armel’s leadership philosophy blends transformational and servant leadership, with an emphasis on resilience, ethical decision-making, and creating a balanced, values-driven culture where teams can thrive. Throughout his career, Armel has garnered extensive experience across banking, corporate finance, fintech, and financial risk management. Having held senior roles at major institutions such as State Street Corporation, M&T Bank, Citi, and GE Capital, Armel has built a comprehensive understanding of global finance. His entrepreneurial spirit and senior banking experience have allowed him to lead across multiple sectors in the U.S., Europe, and Africa. Armel is deeply committed to community involvement and philanthropy. He is a passionate advocate for economic empowerment, the arts, and music and serves on the board of the Edmond Town Hall Theater, cultural landmark that enriches the lives of Connecticut residents. Board of Directors of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut. He serves on the board of the scholars of finance, an organization on a mission to inspire character and integrity in the young finance leaders of tomorrow. He serves in the FinTech Advisory Board for the Center for Financial Professionals. Armel was named Presidential Leadership Scholar 2023 as a bold, principled and visionary leaders in US making a difference in the world; and learning the presidential leadership of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations. Outside of work, Armel is a father of three daughters, a private pilot and enjoys lifelong learning, supporting youth leadership, and promoting ethical leadership in the financial sector. Armel’s educational background includes an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an Master in Management from the ESCP Business School, France, and a certificate in alternative investments from Harvard Business School. He also holds an Engineer Degree Statistics & Macroeconomics (I.S.E.) from Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d'Economie Appliquée, Ivory Coast.
Personal Journey
PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
Armel Roméo Kouassi is a seasoned finance professional with more than two decades of experience in banking and financial services. He is currently the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Asset Liability Management at Northern Trust, overseeing the firm's asset liability management strategies. His life and career have taken him around the world, including assignments with companies across the United States, Europe, and Africa. Over the course of his career, he has successfully transitioned between entrepreneurial and senior banking roles, gaining a comprehensive understanding of global finance. Armel is a Certified Financial Risk Professional and a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in finance from ESCP Europe in Paris, and a master’s in statistics and economics from ENSEA in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Personal Journey
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Personal Journey
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Praesent tempor nulla eu magna maximus cursus. Suspendisse potenti. Aliquam scelerisque neque in ante bibendum, sed placerat justo imperdiet. Fusce sit amet augue justo. Morbi lectus diam, fringilla nec enim sed, tincidunt egestas ligula. Quisque nec libero rhoncus, tincidunt ipsum sed, facilisis odio. Cras lectus libero, posuere id mi nec, congue mattis nisi. Phasellus fringilla ligula sed ligula efficitur, at euismod enim malesuada. Curabitur maximus a lacus sit amet pretium. Vestibulum id elit sit amet orci facilisis laoreet eu ut turpis. Pellentesque et tellus semper, consectetur lacus eu, feugiat risus. Nullam eleifend leo ac nisi semper ultrices. Aenean dignissim risus nec nibh scelerisque tincidunt. Pellentesque ullamcorper nulla nec libero rhoncus efficitur.
Personal Journey
Along with his professional work, Armel is deeply committed to community involvement and philanthropy. He has served on several boards and advocated for economic empowerment, music, and the arts. Armel firmly believes in the value of service to one’s community and has made it a priority to use his skills and experience to better the lives of others.
He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and NewArts/12.14 Foundation in Connecticut, which promotes resilience and well-being in children through character development programs. Armel is also a member of the Board of the Wharton Club of Africa, promoting investment and growth opportunities across the African continent.
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This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
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This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Armel balances his career and nonprofit work with family life as a husband and father of three daughters. His wife Valarie is a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and a dentist and partner at Dental Associates of Connecticut in Newtown. She shares her husband’s passion for community work, having volunteered her time for several non-profit organizations, including Young Life in Danbury, which supports young mothers, and SOS Enfants, an organization dedicated to helping children and orphans across the world.
Meanwhile, his daughters share his love of music and the arts: Matiya and Alexiane are both talented violinists and active members of the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra, while Camille is currently learning violin and piano.
Armel has come to appreciate the importance of work-life harmony in achieving business success and personal happiness. He has dedicated himself to helping others find that same sense of balance that he's achieved in his own life.
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This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.