Our Leadership
John Handy
President and Chief Executive Officer
John is the president and chief executive officer for Commerce Trust Company. Prior to joining Commerce Bank in December 1999, John was the chief operating officer and a director of TIAA-CREF Trust Company, FSB, the Missouri-based trust subsidiary of the national teachers' retirement fund manager. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he was with Bank of America (formerly Boatmen's Trust Company) for 10 years, where his responsibilities included managing a group of 14 regional trust offices in seven states. John received his bachelor of arts degree in economics and business administration from Wittenberg University in 1985. In 1991, he graduated with honors from the ABA Graduate Trust School of Northwestern University, where he earned his CFSC designation. John also holds a Series 65 license.
Cathleen Arshadi
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Compliance Officer
Cathy is controller and chief compliance officer for Commerce Trust Company. Cathy is responsible for the current and long-term financial condition of the organization, including the budget process, business plan development, forecasting, financial management, establishment of financial and sales goals, and performance metrics. She is responsible for compliance oversight for all lines of business as well as examination oversight, working with the Federal Reserve Bank, Missouri Division of Finance, FINRA, and the SEC. Cathy has more than 24 years of financial and banking experience. She earned her bachelor of business administration degree from University of Missouri-St. Louis. Cathy is on the University of Missouri-St. Louis Finance Advisory Board. She also has been active with CORO’s “Women in Leadership” program.
Scott Boswell, CFA®, CEBS
President, West Region
Scott is president of Commerce Trust Company’s West Region. He has oversight of all Commerce Trust lines of business, including private client, private banking, and institutional services. He also serves as the companywide head of the institutional services and corporate trust business lines. Scott joined Commerce Trust as managing director in Kansas City in January 2007. Having more than 20 years of investment management experience with companies like Bank of America, Aetna Capital and New York Life Asset Management, Scott has strong practical know-how in developing and offering innovative financial solutions. He holds a master of business administration degree from University of Chicago and a bachelor of arts degree from Westminster College. In addition to his CFA, he is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist. He holds or has held leadership roles on a variety of charitable and industry boards, including serving as past-trustee of Westminster College, vice president of the board and member of the Boy Scouts of America-Heart of America Council, president of the board for The Kansas City Chorale, director and chairman of the board for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and member of the board and chairman of the Marketing Committee of St. Luke’s Health System Foundation.
J.-J. Landers Carnal, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Landers is the chief investment officer for Commerce Trust Company and president of Commerce Investment Advisors, Inc., the SEC-registered advisor to the Commerce Funds mutual fund complex. Prior to joining Commerce in June 2000, Landers was president and chief investment officer of Boatmen’s Capital Management, Inc., a subsidiary of Bank of America. He also served as co-chief investment officer, executive vice president, and member of the board of directors of the former Boatmen’s Trust Company. All told, Landers has more than 30 years of professional investment experience. Landers is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington and Lee University and received his master of business administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a past president of the St. Louis Society of Financial Analysts. He also holds a FINRA Series 65 securities license.
Jeffrey Jacoby
President, East Region
Jeff is the president of the east region of Commerce Trust Company and also serves as the Saint Louis Market Executive. Jeff leads Commerce Trust’s private client business across the east region which includes eastern and southern Missouri and Illinois. He works closely with the management team and professional staff to ensure seamless and consistent delivery of our exceptional client experience. Prior to joining Commerce Trust, Jeff practiced as a tax attorney for over twenty years. He attended the University of Missouri, earning his bachelor of science degree in business administration and his master of business administration degree. Jeff also earned his juris doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law. He is a member of the Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan Saint Louis, and the Estate Planning Council of Saint Louis.
Paul Zietlow
Chief Operating Officer
Paul is the Chief Operating Officer for Commerce Trust Company. He has overall responsibility for the processes and systems that support our clients and the various business lines within the Trust Company. Paul works with the rest of the senior leadership team to ensure the business runs smoothly on a daily basis and also in building out capabilities and support to meet the evolving needs of our clients. Prior to joining Commerce Bank in May of 2011, Paul worked at TIAA-CREF and Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company (now BMO) where he held several leadership positions that included Director of Operations for the TIAA-CREF Trust Company and Director of Product. Paul graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh Business School with a major in Finance.