Citizens Financial Group has appointed Aunoy Banerjee as its new chief financial officer and executive vice president, effective October 24, succeeding John Woods, who is leaving to become CFO at State Street. Banerjee, currently the finance chief at Barclays Bank, brings extensive experience from leadership roles at Barclays, State Street, and Citi. He will report to Citizens CEO Bruce Van Saun as the Providence, Rhode Island-based lender continues its growth and transformation agenda.
Banerjee’s career spans significant roles in financial services, including eight years at State Street as chief transformation officer, where he streamlined operations and boosted productivity, and 11 years at Citi, culminating as managing director of markets and securities services.
At Barclays, he currently oversees a £1.1 trillion balance sheet and co-leads the bank’s investment simplification initiative. His expertise in managing complex finance functions is expected to drive Citizens’ ambitious goals, Van Saun said in a statement.
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“I’m excited to join Citizens and help drive sustainable growth for its stakeholders,” Banerjee said. “The bank is on a transformational journey, and I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to take it to the next level.” Until Banerjee assumes the role, Chris Emerson, head of corporate planning and enterprise finance, will serve as interim CFO following Woods’ departure on Friday.
Analysts at Piper Sandler, R. Scott Siefers and Frank Williams, praised Banerjee’s appointment, citing his “large and complex bank finance experience” as a strong fit for Citizens. They noted his capability to step into the role seamlessly, filling a critical position at the regional lender.
Banerjee’s leadership philosophy emphasizes building a “winning spirit” in teams, as he shared in a recent Barclays LinkedIn post, highlighting the importance of belief, skills, and processes in achieving success. His appointment signals Citizens’ focus on leveraging seasoned expertise to navigate its next phase of growth.
