Bubbler Executive Appointments and Awards

Fiserv names former H&R Block executive as CFO
Fiserv Inc. today announced that Mark Ernst has joined the company as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
In his new role, Ernst will provide leadership in several key strategic areas, including integrated product delivery, service quality and the achievement of the company’s operational effectiveness objectives. He will report to president and chief executive officer Jeffery Yabuki.
"Mark has a proven track record in delivering strong results across a wide array of financial services businesses and government," said Yabuki. "His leadership experience will complement our management team as we look to further extend our solution differentiation, and capture a larger share of market opportunities."
Ernst, 52, was most recently deputy commissioner for operations support for the Internal Revenue Service, where he was responsible for technology, operations, shared services, human resources, and the chief financial office. Prior to that, he was chief executive officer of Bellevue Capital LLC, a private investment firm. Ernst led a transformation of tax and financial services at H&R Block, Inc., where he served as chief operating Officer for three years and as chairman, president and CEO from 2001 through 2007. His background includes senior management positions with the American Express Company and spans more than 25 years in the financial services industry.
Ernst holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He now serves on its Advisory Board. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Drake University, where he is a member of the Board of Trustees.

Banker appointed to oversee M&I integration with Harris
The Bank of Montreal today announced the appointment of Russ Robertson to oversee the company’s integration of Harris Financial Corp. and Milwaukee’s Marshall & Ilsley Corp.
Robertson was appointed executive vice president of business integration, BMO Financial Group, and vice chairman of Chicago-based Harris Financial Corp., effective March 23, 2011.
Robertson will oversee the effective integration of the bank’s financial infrastructure across all businesses.
Prior to joining BMO in 2008, Robertson was managing partner of Arthur Andersen Canada and vice chairman of Deloitte and Touche (Canada).
BMO also appointed Tom Flynn as executive vice president and chief financial officer and Surjit Raipal as deputy head of enterprise risk and portfolio management.
"These leaders are highly qualified and their appointments reflect a significant step our company is making toward realizing the next phase of our growth plan. In line with our ongoing succession plans, the changes announced today position us well as we push ahead with our intensive customer agenda, including our plans to accelerate our growth in the U.S. as we move to combine our P&C U.S. operations and introduce a larger bank with a significant presence in the U.S Midwest," said Bill Downe, president and chief executive officer of BMO Financial Group.

Feingold to teach legal course at Marquette
Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will join the Marquette University Law School faculty as visiting professor of law, beginning in the spring semester 2011, the university announced today.
Feingold completed his third term in the U.S. Senate Jan. 3.
“Senator Feingold joins Marquette Law School with a substantial academic, legal and legislative background,” said Joseph Kearney, dean of Marquette University Law School, in announcing the appointment. “He will draw on all of this in working with students in their analysis of some of the most complex legal issues facing our nation and world today. I look forward to his service on our faculty.”
Feingold will teach an elective course, “Current Legal Issues: The U.S. Senate,” to upper-level law students. He earned his undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a former Rhodes Scholar and an honors law graduate of both Oxford University and Harvard University. He practiced law for six years with two Wisconsin law firms, Foley & Lardner and LaFollette & Sinykin. Feingold served for 10 years in the Wisconsin Senate and 18 years in the United States Senate, where he was a member of the Foreign Relations, Intelligence, Budget and Judiciary Committees.
“As I looked at beginning to write the next chapter of my professional life, the opportunity to be in a Wisconsin classroom with engaged law students is one I found very appealing,” Feingold said. “Marquette Law School is a dynamic place, and I look forward to being part of it.”
While teaching at Marquette University Law School, Feingold also expects to begin work on a book.