St. Louis Fed names Henriquez, Torbett to key positions

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has appointed François G. Henriquez the first vice president and chief operating officer, effective Thursday (Aug. 15). He will succeed Kathleen O’Neill who is retiring after more than 36 years.

Henriquez joined the St. Louis Fed in September 2018 and is executive vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary, chief administrative officer, and a member of the Bank’s management committee.

Following the process specified in the Federal Reserve Act, Henriquez was appointed first vice president by the Class B and Class C directors of the St. Louis Fed’s board of directors, an action which was subsequently approved by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.

As first vice president, Henriquez will be responsible for the strategic, operational and financial performance of the St. Louis Fed, including its branches in Little Rock, Louisville and Memphis. In addition, he will work with the Bank’s senior leadership team and collaborate with colleagues across the Federal Reserve System.

“François is a recognized leader and will play a critical role in advancing our public service mission in the Eighth District,” said Alberto Musalem, the St. Louis Fed’s president and CEO. “I am excited to begin working with François as a strategic partner in continuing to pursue operational excellence and fulfilling our commitment to a strong and resilient economy for all.”

Before joining the Bank, Henriquez had a lengthy career in executive leadership and management at various private sector law firms and at U.S. Central Federal Credit Union, where he led the institution after it was placed in conservatorship by the National Credit Union Administration.

Henriquez received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University and a J.D. degree from Columbia University School of Law.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has also named Executive Vice President Matthew W. Torbett as Federal Reserve System Treasury director, effective Thursday (Aug. 15). He will be responsible for the Treasury Relations and Support Office (TRSO) and managing the Federal Reserve’s overall relationship with the U.S. Treasury for fiscal agent services. He will continue to serve on the Bank’s management committee.

Torbett also succeeds Kathleen O’Neill, who held this position.

“Matt’s decades of experience as a leader in Treasury relations make him an ideal fit for this impactful role,” said Alberto Musalem, the St. Louis Fed’s president and CEO. “I am thrilled for him to take on the important work of the System in managing our service to the U.S. Treasury.”

Torbett joined the Bank in 1997 in cash operations at the Little Rock Branch, expanding his responsibility in 2003 to run cash operations for both Memphis and Little Rock branches.

He moved to the St. Louis office in 2005 to join the TRSO. Torbett became TRSO deputy product manager in 2009 and senior vice president in 2016. In 2021, he was named TRSO product manager with responsibility for daily operations. He serves as executive vice president and TRSO product manager and is a member of the Bank’s management committee.