09/26/2016

Citizens Financial Group Promotes Scott Essex to Chief Compliance Officer

Succeeding Bob Nelson who will retire after 36 years in the financial services industry

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG or “Citizens”) today announced the promotion of Deputy Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer Scott Essex to Chief Compliance Officer, effective October 17, 2016. He will succeed Bob Nelson, who is retiring effective October 31, 2016. Essex will report to Chief Risk Officer Malcolm Griggs.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926005380/en/

Scott Essex (Photo: Business Wire).

Scott Essex (Photo: Business Wire).

“Scott is well placed to take over the leadership of the Compliance organization as we execute on our long-planned transition,” said Griggs. “With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, he has deep expertise in compliance, operational risk management, business operations and change management. Since joining Citizens, Scott has had a major impact on the Compliance organization.”

In announcing Essex’s appointment, Griggs thanked Nelson for his leadership and service to the company. Nelson joined Citizens in 2010 as Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Strategy after 23 years at Citigroup.

“Bob moved over from Strategy to become Chief Compliance Officer in 2013, demonstrating his versatility,” said Griggs. “Under Bob’s leadership, we’ve made tremendous strides in building an effective compliance-management system. I’d like to congratulate Bob on his achievements over a long and highly accomplished career and wish him well on his retirement.”

Essex joined Citizens in 2014 as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer from TD Bank, where he was Head of Global Compliance for Shared Services and Technology. Previously, he held compliance, risk management and operational leadership roles at major financial institutions.

Essex earned a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He additionally earned a Master of Science in Engineering and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Rutgers University.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $145.2 billion in assets as of June 30, 2016. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens helps its retail customers “bank better” with mobile and online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,200 ATMs and approximately 1,200 Citizens Bank branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Citizens also provides wealth management, mortgage lending, auto lending, student lending and commercial banking services in select markets nationwide. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers corporate, institutional and not-for-profit clients a full range of wholesale banking products and services including lending and deposits, capital markets, treasury services, foreign exchange and interest hedging, leasing and asset finance, specialty finance and trade finance. Citizens operates through its subsidiaries Citizens Bank, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania as Citizens Bank, Citizens Commercial Banking and Citizens One. Additional information about Citizens and its full line of products and services can be found at www.citizensbank.com.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Media:
Peter Lucht, 781-655-2289
or
Investors:
Ellen A. Taylor, 203-900-6854

Source: Citizens Financial Group, Inc.