Martha Henderson, Leading Entertainment Industry Banker, Is Set to Retire

Martha Henderson, the banking star who had a major role in City National Bank financing the entertainment industry over four decades, and whose expertise has seen her repeatedly honored on Billboard’s “Women in Music” and other power lists, is set to retire.

Currently serving as vice chairman of entertainment banking at City National Bank, Henderson will step down on Feb. 2, 2024, ending her 40-year tenure with the organization.

Los Angeles-based Henderson joined City National in 1983 from Wells Fargo, where she launched her career in its private bank unit serving the entertainment industry.

With Henderson at the helm, City National’s team serving the entertainment industry now provides financial expertise to more than 90% of entertainment business managers, according to a statement from the bank, plus more than 50% of all Broadway shows, and upwards of 80% of the country music industry in Nashville.

Also, she created a team to serve the needs of Latin entertainers, expanded its business to New York, Miami, Atlanta and on Music Row in Nashville, and more.

“Martha is an institution at City National and I am grateful for her extraordinary service,” comments Kelly Coffey, CEO City National Entertainment. “Her decades of leadership and the profound impact she has had are felt throughout the organization.”

As she prepared for retirement over the last several years, explains Howard Hammond, CEO, City National Bank, Henderson “invested herself in ensuring the continuing entertainment banking leadership team is well prepared to support our clients,” singling-out experienced teammate JaHan Wang, executive vice president of entertainment banking.

Henderson’s financial wizardry hasn’t gone unnoticed outside of the bank. Billboard named her to its “Power” list in 2023 and 2022, and recognized her in its “Women in Music” list of the most powerful women in the music industry for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Separately, Variety named Henderson in its “Women’s Impact Report” as one of the most important women in Hollywood, doing so in 2016, 2019 and 2020, while Barron’s profiled her as the most powerful banker in Hollywood in 2017.

“Among the career highlights I am most proud of is the opportunity I had to grow and develop the next generation of leadership at the bank to continue our focus on serving clients,” comments Henderson ahead of he departure. “I’m confident City National’s unwavering dedication to the industry will only grow.”