New Leaders You Should Know: Cydney Shapleigh

Cydney Shapleigh, who has two decades of executive-level experience and three decades in NH’s banking industry, became president of NHTrust in October after serving as the company’s senior vice president since January.

NHTrust in Concord provides individuals and institutional clients with wealth management strategies that include investment, trust, and custodial services. It manages more than $1.4 billion in assets and is an affiliate of NH Mutual Bancorp.

Shapleigh fell into banking accidentally; her original dream was to become an attorney. “As a summer bank teller my senior year in high school and later in college, I realized I really enjoyed the people,” she says. “My dream was to be a district attorney. But I loved helping customers figure out new things, and as time went on, I found my passion for helping people through banking.”

Shapleigh worked her way into the wealth management and investing side of banking, eventually becoming a branch manager. After a maternity leave in the 90s that provided her time to become a licensed financial consultant, Shapleigh began her career at Citizens Bank and then TD Bank. Eventually she moved to Laconia Savings Bank, which is now Bank of NH.

Shapleigh previously served as a senior transformation program manager at Bottomline Technologies, a global company based in Portsmouth that provides business payment, invoice automation, and digital banking solutions. She also worked at Bank of NH as head of wealth management, executive vice president, chief wealth management officer, chief retail banking officer and was part of the executive committee.

Shapleigh says she has big shoes to fill at NHTrust, referring to her predecessor Paul Provost.

“He started this company 22 years ago, so handing off what he started is a big deal,” she says. “I look forward to building on Paul’s leadership, the solid foundation and the collective efforts of NHTrust team members to further enhance our ability to be the first-choice provider of wealth management services across New Hampshire and beyond.”

One of the biggest challenges for the banking and wealth management industry, Shapleigh says, is hiring qualified individuals. “People don’t always understand how much growth potential there is in an organization like ours,” she says. Despite the challenge, Shapleigh says NHTrust is growing its team.

Shapleigh, who lives in Alton, says she loves giving back to her community. She serves as a school district moderator and is on the board of Northeast Delta Dental, where she chairs the Corporate Governance Committee. When she’s not working, Shapleigh likes to spend time riding her motorcycle and spending time at her cottage near Wells Beach in Maine. She also enjoys spending time with her adult son. “Any time we can have together I cherish.”