Discover Financial Services (DFS) announced that J. Michael Shepherd will join the Company?s Board of Directors, effective immediately, and will serve on the Board?s Risk Oversight Committee. Shepherd brings a unique set of skills developed over his distinguished career in financial services that includes leadership roles in banking, government, and law with deep experience in the areas of compliance, risk management and corporate governance. Shepherd is the former Chairman and CEO of BancWest Corporation and its subsidiary, Bank of the West, the U.S. retail arm of BNP Paribas Group.

Bank of the West was acquired by BMO in February of 2023. He also served as Chairman and as a Director of BNP Paribas USA Inc. from July 2016 to February 2023. Shepherd joined Bank of the West in 2004 and held a succession of positions, including General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer and President.

He served as CEO from January 2008 until June 2016, when he assumed the role of Chairman of BNP Paribas USA. Before joining Bank of the West, Shepherd 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.

Shepherd is also a director of Pacific Mutual Holding Company and previously was a director of First Hawaiian Inc. and CoreLogic.