Kate Danella, Regions Financial’s head of consumer banking, will succeed Dave Keenan as the bank’s chief administrative officer, the Birmingham, Alabama-based lender said Tuesday.
Keenan is retiring at the end of the year after a two-decade stint at $161 billion-asset Regions, the bank said.
Keenan came into Regions’ fold in 2006 as human resources director at AmSouth, a Birmingham rival with which Regions merged in a $10 billion deal. He became Regions’ chief human resources officer in 2010 and the bank’s CAO in 2022.
“It’s never easy to step away from something you love, but the timing is right for me personally, and the bank has excellent talent ready to step up to their next level of leadership,” Keenan said in a statement Tuesday.
Danella, an 11-year veteran of the bank, represents that next level. In her new role, she’ll “set the tone and vision” for teams managing strategic planning, digital banking, community engagement, customer advocacy and the modernization of core platforms, Regions said Tuesday.
“We’re operating in great markets where we have incredible longevity and a compelling value proposition,” Danella said in a statement. “Through how we serve customers, how we’re involved in our communities, and how we introduce our brand to more people and businesses, Regions Bank will remain focused on maximizing opportunities for growth.”
Danella started at Regions in 2015 as a wealth management strategy and effectiveness executive, before becoming chief strategy and client experience officer in 2021, and leading the consumer bank the following year.
Other Regions executives are seeing changes to their roles, too. John Jordan, the bank’s retail-banking chief, will succeed Danella as head of consumer banking.
Meanwhile, Angela Santone, the bank’s chief people officer, will begin reporting directly to Regions CEO John Turner.
The changes for Danella, Jordan and Santone take effect Sept. 1, at which point Keenan will shift into an advisory role.
In a statement Tuesday, Turner called Jordan and Santone “two of the most impactful additions we’ve made as an organization in recent years,” and credited Keenan’s “legacy of building the best teams.”
“Dave’s leadership has strengthened every part of Regions Bank, and his commitment to developing future leaders positions us well for continued growth,” Turner said.
Keenan is at least the second member of Regions’ C-suite to announce his departure this year. The bank’s longtime CFO, David Turner, retired in March.
John Turner on Tuesday called Danella a “natural fit” for the CAO role, with a “broad scope of banking experience, a deep understanding of customers’ evolving needs and a firm commitment to innovation.”
“Her leadership is guided by a spirit of continuous improvement, always fostering strong alignment among business groups and making investments that position Regions Bank to expand its reach and elevate its service,” Turner said.
