Christopher Martin is chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Provident Financial Services, Inc., and The Provident Bank, New Jersey’s oldest, state-chartered bank. He has been in the banking industry for 32 years. As one of New Jersey’s most prominent banking executives, Martin serves on the board of directors of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey Bankers Association.
He also dedicates much of his spare time helping to improve the community. Martin is the vice president and treasurer of The 200 Club of Middlesex County, which provides financial assistance and scholarships to families of law enforcement, fire, and public safety officials, including those that are killed or disabled in the line of duty. He serves as immediate past president of the alumni board of Elon University, is a member of the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth & Middlesex Counties, and is a member of the Raritan Bay Medical Center Retirement Trust & Investment Committee. He has also sponsored the Student Partner Alliance and volunteers at food pantries and Habitat for Humanity build sites.
Describe your morning routine, before you arrive at work.
I wake up looking forward to another day and another challenge. I stop for Dunkin Donuts coffee, where I am a regular, then drive 45 minutes to work.
How do you wind down at the end of a busy day or week?
I go to the gym and run or workout for an hour or so. I usually read The Wall Street Journal if I didn’t get a chance to during the day. At the end of the week I may have a glass of wine.
What newspapers and magazines do you regularly read?
I read The Wall Street Journal every day. Over the weekend I like to read The Asbury Park Press, and The Star-Ledger is one of the many news, finance, and industry publications I read regularly online or in print. Occasionally I will read Golf Digest.
What is a perfect day?
A perfect day is satisfying one customer or client that did not think could be satisfied.
Biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is people that complain about their position in life. It is a journey—if you do not like the path you are on, you have to change the course, not others.
What leisure activities occupy your time away from the office?
When I’m not at work I like to run and occasionally play golf, though I wish I had
more time for both.
Fill in the blank: Most people don’t know that I _______________.
Most people don’t know that I’m not cheap and that I’m very philanthropic.
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
If I could learn any skill, it would be to learn how to relax.
Stranded on a desert island, name the three items you need to survive.
Water, shelter, and a companion.
If you could start over, what profession would you pursue?
If I could start over, I would go into FBI or police work.