Hugh McColl on his legacy and Charlotte's growth
Legendary former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl reflects on his success in business and shaping Charlotte into a vibrant city
The following article appeared in the September 18, 2024, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Hugh McColl, at age 89, on his secrets to business success: ‘Aim high and work hard. … And when in doubt, attack’
Former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl (left) speaks with Queens University of Charlotte professor Will Sparks on Tuesday in front of an audience of several hundred.
In a rare public talk, revered business leader Hugh McColl said Tuesday that he’s proud of having helped shape Charlotte into a vibrant city — and of his role in building a big bank that helped the city grow in size and stature.
“I feel really good about what we’ve accomplished building a city that is unlike any other city in America,” McColl said. “This is the only city in America — the only one, I’m telling you — where you can walk to the ballet or the opera, pro baseball, pro basketball, pro football, all in a four-square-mile area.”
He said he’d “love to take all the credit for that,” but that many others are responsible for the city’s success.
McColl, 89, was interviewed for about 30 minutes on leadership and civic issues before an audience of several hundred at the Queens University of Charlotte’s McColl School of Business, which bears his name. The school was celebrating its redesigned MBA program that it is calling “the region’s most customizable MBA.”