Alex joined CFC as an Analyst in September 2010. She comes to The Council after receiving her MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to LSE she interned with The Cohen Group, a global business consulting firm based in Washington, DC. In this position she conducted research on the global economic crisis and its effects on the ability of aerospace and defense corporations to procure government contracts. She also worked at Blank Rome LLP in Philadelphia, PA where she assisted the corporate litigation team in antitrust matters.
She is currently researching the effects of global financial regulation on retail banking and working on a new CFC project examining the “Anatomy of a World Class Customer Experience.” When not working she enjoys traveling and rooting for her hometown Philadelphia Phillies.
In addition to her MSc, Alex graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University with a BA in Government.
Brian is a consultant with the Council on Financial Competition. His research focuses include digital channel strategy, the future role of the branch, and product innovation. Brian earned his PhD from Brown University.
Ben Deufel is a Practice Manager in the Financial Services Practice. He directs the Financial Services Quantitative Insight team, which leverages data about customers, employees, and business performance to help members solve key business challenges. Before directing the quantitative insight team, Ben led research projects centered on sales, marketing, and distribution challenges in consumer banking. Prior to CEB, Ben advised senior corporate and political leaders on communications strategy based on research from surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups. Ben received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in political science and his Bachelor’s degree from Wabash College.
Derek Frost is Senior Director and Executive Advisor with the Council on Financial Competition. For almost 15
years, he has helped retail banking and insurance executives around the world develop and execute their most
important initiatives.
Building on his prior experience advising executive teams on improving performance across sales, customer
service, segmentation, proposition development and other retail banking investments, Derek has most recently
worked with executives to identify quick-win tactics for boosting branch sales. He has also led discussions with
leadership teams about how to best address the needs of the “post-crisis” consumer.
Derek holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a doctorate from the
University of Connecticut. He has been with the Corporate Executive Board since 1996.
Peter Aykens is a Managing Director in the Financial Services Practice at the Corporate Executive Board. He joined the practice in 1991 and across the past 20 years has conducted extensive research in the areas of retail banking, wealth management, personal lines insurance and operations. Peter grew up in Minnesota, received a BA degree from St. Olaf College, studied in Wales at University College Wales, Aberystwyth and earned a Ph.D. from Brown University.
Sharon Chinn is the head of research for the Council on Financial Competition and the Business Banking Board. She is a 10 -year veteran with CEB and a 20-year veteran in banking. Throughout her career she has held numerous different positions within the Financial Services space including Head of Small Business Strategy and Director of Branch transformation. Sharon’s consulting work includes travelling across the US to conduct benchmark studies on loan origination for small business and middle market. Sharon currently resides in Southern California with her family.
