Scott Aleali, Head of Private Equity Finance at Citizens Private Bank and podcast host of Fund Fanatics, discusses his career trajectory from Silicon Valley Bank to his current role. He shares lessons learned from the banking collapses of SVB and First Republic, emphasizing the need for transparency and differentiation in private markets. Scott highlights innovative liquidity solutions for underserved middle market clients and his passion for podcasting, revealing how authentic content can foster connections in the finance sector.
57:06
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
From SVB Irvine To New York Private Equity
Scott Aleali recounted moving from SVB in California to build a private equity services business in New York.
He partnered with Jeff Meyer and later moved to First Republic, shaping his career in PE banking.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Shock Of The Bank Runs
Scott described his shock at the SVB and First Republic failures and the speed of panic-driven withdrawals.
He emphasized how uninsured deposit concentration and rapid bad-news spread caused the bank runs.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Be Honest And Responsive In Crises
When delivering hard news, prioritize honesty, transparency, and responsiveness.
Keep clients central and maintain open lines of communication during crises.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Scott Aleali joins Brandon Sedloff on The Distribution to share his journey from early beginnings at Silicon Valley Bank to leading the private equity business at Citizens Private Bank. He reflects on the collapse of SVB and First Republic, the creation of Citizens Private Bank, and how his team is building a differentiated service model for private equity and venture capital clients. Scott also provides insight into industry trends, the rise of new liquidity solutions, and his own experience as a podcast host creating content for the private markets community.
They discuss:
Lessons learned from the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic
How Citizens Private Bank was created and its focus on private equity and venture capital clients
The importance of differentiation and returning capital in today’s private markets
New liquidity solutions for investment professionals and why the middle market is underserved
Scott’s journey into podcasting and the role of content creation in building authentic connections
This episode offers valuable perspective for private markets professionals navigating an evolving financial landscape.
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:02:04) - Scott’s career and background
(00:06:33) - The SVB and FRB failures
(00:13:13) - Advice for delivering harsh news
(00:14:42) - The founding of Citizens Private Bank
(00:17:19) - The landscape of CPB today
(00:31:12) - Scott’s view of the market today
(00:34:46) - What makes for a differentiated strategy/GP?
(00:44:32) - Building the Fund Fanatics podcast and its impact on the business
The Distribution by Juniper Square