Darleen Gillespie

Darleen Gillespie is an accomplished banking executive with more than 30 years of experience helping financial institutions grow, strengthening customer relationships, and building strategies that deliver meaningful results for both customers and communities. As HOPE’s Chief Retail Officer, Darleen provides strategic leadership for our Retail Banking department, partnering with teams across the organization to strengthen the member experience, grow deposits and retail lending, enhance branch performance, develop retail leaders, and advance initiatives that support HOPE’s mission.

Throughout her career, Darleen has held senior executive positions where she has shaped business strategies, expanded customer relationships, increased deposits, strengthened branch performance, and enhanced the overall banking experience. She is known for bringing people, strategy, and execution together to create sustainable growth and build high-performing teams. Her contributions to the banking industry were recognized in 2025 when she was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Banking by Women We Admire.

Beyond her professional career, Darleen is deeply committed to community engagement and service. She has served on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, is a former member of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and has supported numerous volunteer and community service initiatives. Her commitment to financial inclusion, economic opportunity, and community development has been a consistent part of her professional and personal journey.

Darleen holds an undergraduate degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey and an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.