Jay Sidhu
Jay Sidhu has long been the face of banking in Berks—as the Chair & CEO of Customers Bancorp and previously as the Chair & CEO of Sovereign Bank. When Jay emigrated from India to pursue an MBA at Wilkes University—the only school to offer him a scholarship from the many to which he wrote—he didn’t expect to spend more than 50 years in banking. In fact, he had accepted an offer from Sylvania Electronics when two deans persuaded him to take a meeting with a gentleman named Richard Ehst. The two have been partners since.
Jay is telling this story and more in his recently published Wall Street Journal best seller, Never Ever, Ever Give Up. As a teenager, Jay hitchhiked from India through Afghanistan, the Shah’s Terran, Istanbul, Paris and on to London on a mission of international peace. These tales set-up his move to America and his rise to lead two of America’s premier banking institutions— from headquarters in Berks County.
Jay’s passion now is to share his stories with youth and young adults letting them know they can overcome challenges and adversity by setting goals and persevering. It’s a philosophy Jay learned from his father and is passing along to next generations. All proceeds from Never Ever, Ever Give Up and related speaking engagements are being contributed to scholarships and charity.
