# Arkadi Kuhlmann

> Arkadi Kuhlmann is a Canadian-American banking entrepreneur and author who founded ING DIRECT Canada in 1996, ahead of its 1997 public launch, and led the launch of ING DIRECT USA in 2000. His approach combined simple savings products, direct distribution and a deliberately articulated company culture. He later founded multicurrency banking venture Zenbanx, acquired by SoFi in 2017, and published Above the Clouds in 2024. A July 2026 Captal filing identifies him as chairman and CEO.

- **Role:** Chairman and CEO at Captal, Inc. (identified in July 2026 Form D)
- **Organizations:** ING DIRECT Canada (now Tangerine), ING DIRECT USA, Zenbanx, SoFi, Royal Bank of Canada, Deak International, North American Trust, Ivey Business School, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Captal, Inc., Arkas Capital
- **Nationality:** Canadian-American
- **Education:** Honors Business Administration (HBA), Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), University of Western Ontario
- **Known for:** Founded and led ING DIRECT operations in Canada and the United States., ING DIRECT USA reached 7.8 million customers and more than US$84 billion in deposits, according to his 2016 AMA Toronto biography., Inducted into Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends in 2016.

## Career timeline

- **1971-1972** — Earned HBA and MBA degrees at Ivey.
- **1977-1984** — Held management and vice-president positions at Royal Bank of Canada.
- **1986** — Relaunched Deak International following a restructuring.
- **1990s** — Led North American Trust before joining ING.
- **1996** — Founded ING DIRECT Canada and became its founding president and CEO.
- **1997** — ING DIRECT Canada opened to customers.
- **2000** — Launched ING DIRECT USA.
- **2004-2013** — Chaired the Ivey Advisory Board.
- **2008** — The Orange Code, coauthored with Bruce Philp, won the Industry category in the business book awards now run by Porchlight.
- **2011** — Published Rock Then Roll: The Secrets of Culture-Driven Leadership.
- **2012** — Capital One completed its ING DIRECT USA acquisition; Kuhlmann founded Zenbanx that July.
- **2015** — Zenbanx launched in Canada and the United States.
- **2017** — SoFi acquired Zenbanx; the acquisition announcement said Kuhlmann would lead development of new banking services.
- **2024** — Dundurn Press published Above the Clouds: Rediscovering the Power of Culture-Driven Leadership.
- **2026** — Captal, Inc. identified Kuhlmann as chairman and CEO in its July Form D.

## Achievements

- Founded and led ING DIRECT operations in Canada and the United States.
- ING DIRECT USA reached 7.8 million customers and more than US$84 billion in deposits, according to his 2016 AMA Toronto biography.
- Inducted into Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends in 2016.
- Received an honorary LL.D. from Western in 2010.
- Coauthored the 2008 Industry category winner The Orange Code.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Captal, Inc.’s Form D identifies Kuhlmann as chairman and CEO.
- **2024-08** — Above the Clouds: Rediscovering the Power of Culture-Driven Leadership was published by Dundurn Press.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arkadikuhlmann

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/arkadi-kuhlmann
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-16