OCC Announces Executive Director for Office of Minority and Women Inclusion

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced Shinu Shilesh as the Executive Director for the agency’s Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.

In this role, Ms. Shilesh provides executive direction, sets policies, and oversees all agency matters relating to equal employment opportunity, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in management, employment, and business activities. She reports directly to the Comptroller of the Currency. The OCC established this position to comply with Section 342 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. She will assume this position in October 2023. Ms. Shilesh fills a role vacated by Joyce Cofield, who retired from the position.

”Ensuring that the OCC has the right leadership in place to advance an inclusive culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility is an agency imperative,” said Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu. “Ms. Shilesh brings considerable experience and expertise to these areas, and I look forward to her leadership and future contributions to the agency.”

Prior to joining the OCC, Ms. Shilesh served as the Chief Diversity Officer and Director for the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Diversity and Inclusion at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where she oversaw the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and EEO programs for a global workforce of approximately 38,000 civilians and 1,000 military leaders, serving as the principal advisor to top leadership on EEO, DEIA, and civil rights matters.

Prior to joining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, she served as EEO Director at Arlington National Cemetery and Director of EEO/Affirmative Action Programs at the New York State Office of Information Technology Services, where she managed agency wide EEO and affirmative action efforts, including handling discrimination complaints and investigations. She also held EEO and personnel positions at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the New York State Department of Transportation.

Ms. Shilesh holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Albany and a master of science degree in public administration from Sage College of Albany.