Synovus promotes longtime executive to head of consumer banking

Synovus Bank in Columbus, Georgia, has promoted a longtime executive to a new role that includes leadership of its consumer banking business.

The $55.5 billion-asset Synovus named Liz Wolverton head of consumer banking and brand experience. Wolverton will assume responsibility for the company’s branch network, consumer banking products and services and its mass affluent strategy, in addition to marketing, digital and customer experience. For the last three years, she held the role of chief strategy and customer experience officer.

“As the future of retail banking is rapidly changing across our industry, marked by reduced numbers of branches, declining transactions, higher digital utilization, increased competition, and revenue disintermediation, Liz’s background in corporate strategy, digital channel development, marketing, and customer experience are valuable in leading the development of our competitive, go-forward roadmap,” Synovus President and CEO Kevin Blair said Tuesday in a press release.

Branch closings have been part of a cost-cutting strategy that began under former CEO Kessel Stelling and has continued under Blair, who became chief executive earlier this year.

Wolverton joined Synovus in 2003 and worked in financial analysis and accounting roles until she was promoted to senior director of banking in 2011. She has frequently been named to American Banker’s list of the Most Powerful Women to Watch.

Synovus also named Susan Pitts as chief operating officer in its consumer banking unit. Pitts has worked in retail banking at the company for 36 years. In her new role, she will lead retail network and sales delivery — and be responsible for building consumer and small- business client relationships.

Earlier this week, Synovus announced the hiring of a former Regions Financial executive to lead its new corporate and investment banking division, which will offer products to larger and more complex companies than Synovus has served in the past.