Financial Services Forum Announces Changes in Communications Leadership
Sarah Knakmuhs to Serve as Chief Communications and Strategy Officer
WASHINGTON, D.C., The Financial Services Forum announced today that Sarah Knakmuhs has been appointed Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, effective March 2. The Forum also announced that Barbara Hagenbaugh will be leaving the organization after eight successful years leading communications.
Knakmuhs will work closely with member companies and key partners to advance a unified voice in support of policies that enable the largest banks to continue driving economic growth, supporting communities, and maintaining their position as the safest and strongest financial institutions in the world.
Knakmuhs will join the Forum from M&T Bank, where she serves as the company’s first Chief Communications Officer, leading enterprise-wide efforts to enhance and protect the company’s reputation, drive business results, and engage employees through clear, consistent, and strategic communications. Her prior experience includes opening and leading the Washington, D.C. office of a major strategic communications firm, and she has also held senior government affairs, policy, and investor relations roles at a Fortune 200 company.
“Sarah brings deep experience in public affairs, corporate communications, and stakeholder engagement, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of business, policy, and public perception. We are pleased to welcome her to the Forum at such an important time for the banking industry,” said Amanda Eversole, President and CEO of the Financial Services Forum.
“FSF has a powerful mission and a vital role to play in today’s financial landscape,” said Knakmuhs. “I’m excited to help elevate the Forum’s voice, strengthen key partnerships and expand its influence through smart strategy and clear, compelling storytelling.”
Hagenbaugh has been an integral member of the Forum team since 2018. During her tenure she built and directed a communications program that drove policy priorities and elevated the role of the nation’s largest banks in the U.S. economy.
“Barbara has seen the Forum and this industry through a time of great transition and will leave it better as a consequence of her many contributions,” said Eversole. “Her leadership was especially critical during the Covid pandemic, when she helped demonstrate the vital role banks play in our communities, and in major integrated campaigns, like the Basel III Endgame. I wish her the best and will remain grateful for her dedication and service.”
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The Financial Services Forum is an economic policy and advocacy organization whose members are the eight largest and most diversified financial institutions headquartered in the United States. Forum member institutions are a leading source of lending and investment in the United States and serve millions of consumers, businesses, investors, and communities throughout the country. The Forum promotes policies that support savings and investment, financial inclusion, deep and liquid capital markets, a competitive global marketplace, and a sound financial system.
Visit our website: fsforum.com