John Pratt Spotlight

John Pratt

John Pratt began his 33-year investment banking career at Merrill Lynch and retired from Bank of America in 2017. Based in Chicago throughout his career, he went on to lead a global investment banking group while continuing to work with clients. 

A global career rooted in Chicago and the Midwest region

John spent his career in Chicago, rising from associate to chairman of the Global Industrials Group. “While I traveled to New York regularly, Chicago was an ideal base for covering the many Fortune 500 companies across the Midwest and Great Lakes region.” As the company aligned coverage around industries in the ‘90s, John increased his focus on the automotive and capital goods sectors, along with other major industries based in the region.

John says that his responsibilities shifted as his role expanded. “As my responsibilities grew, I helped build a coverage team across the U.S., Europe and Asia while continuing to work with clients.” 

“That changed the landscape right away” 

The merger of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch created significant opportunities for clients and employees, while bringing together two organizations with different strengths.

Reflecting on the merger, John says, “While it’s always challenging to combine two big organizations, we and our clients quickly began to see the opportunities created by the combination. Bank of America and Merrill Lynch had different strengths, and when they joined forces, it brought the ability to offer broader capabilities for our clients—that changed the landscape right away. I’m very pleased to see Bank of America remaining a preeminent investment banking firm.”  

“Delivering a global business with a local identity” 

John says that local market leadership is one of the company’s strengths, and something he particularly values in Chicago. “A local market leader brings together the U.S. footprint and delivers the whole company. It creates an identity, instead of individual lines of business operating independently—and that is very powerful for a region or local marketplace.” Alumni relations are a key link between the company’s philanthropic efforts and the local market, and John says he appreciates the company’s ability to drive community results in Chicago. “Being part of the Bank of America Alumni Network allows you to stay connected to important local organizations and events, including the Chicago Marathon.”

The company’s philanthropy in Chicago includes two organizations that are deeply important to John. “The company supports American Corporate Partners, a nationwide organization based in New York, where I’m a board member. It was founded by a former Merrill Lynch colleague and works to find mentors from the corporate world to help veterans and active-duty spouses who are strategizing how to transition to their next career.”

“Bank of America’s longstanding support of the Chicago Symphony has been especially meaningful to me as a Life Trustee. It has also helped sustain one of Chicago’s most important cultural institutions, whose reputation extends far beyond the city.” 

“Colleagues and clients have become friends” 

John retired from the company in 2017 and continues to share his business experience and expertise. He serves on the board of TFI International, a transportation and logistics company listed on the NYSE. He’s also a trustee of the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides 1,300 college scholarships to high-achieving golf caddies with limited financial means. John is helping to lead its current effort to raise funds to continue providing educational opportunities for future generations.

When he’s not in Chicago, John and his wife spend time with their children and five grandchildren in San Francisco and Denver, and at their home in South Carolina. 

“The relationships I built were the most rewarding part of my career. Many colleagues and clients remain close friends.”