Grayson Hall, president and chief operating officer of Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF) who will become president and CEO effective April 1, today announced the company’s executive management team and other organizational changes.<br /><br />“We appreciate Irene’s contributions over the past two years during a time of unprecedented turmoil in our industry. She has served our company and its shareholders well, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.”<br /><br />Effectively immediately, the company’s senior-most management team reporting to Hall are:<br /><br />David Turner, who has been named Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Irene Esteves, who has resigned to pursue other interests. Turner was previously head of Internal Audit.<br />David Edmonds, who has been named to the new position of Chief Administrative Officer. Edmonds was previously head of Human Resources.<br />Bill Wells, Chief Risk Officer.<br />Tim Laney, head of Business Services.<br />John Owen, head of Consumer Services.<br />Hall said, “The leadership we are announcing today gives Regions a focused team dedicated to serving our customers, restoring profitability, and creating shareholder value. These leaders are committed to ensuring that our associates have the tools they need to continue providing exceptional service to our customers and are dedicated to delivering products and services that our customers value. I am particularly pleased to name David Turner as Chief Financial Officer, and I think it speaks highly of our talent management process that such a superb executive was ready to step into this key role. David’s background, expertise, and keen understanding of our business and industry reflect our ability to attract, retain and develop outstanding leaders.”<br /><br />Chairman and CEO Dowd Ritter said, “We appreciate Irene’s contributions over the past two years during a time of unprecedented turmoil in our industry. She has served our company and its shareholders well, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.”<br /><br />Esteves said, “It has been a pleasure to be a part of this company and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in navigating an extremely challenging economic environment. I appreciate the opportunity Dowd gave me and believe that this transition presents the right opportunity for me to make a change. Regions has a great team and I wish them all the best.”<br /><br />In the role of Chief Administrative Officer, Edmonds will have responsibility for the company’s key support functions, including Operations and Technology, Human Resources, and External Affairs. David Keenan, the executive responsible for human resources throughout the company’s 16 states and for Morgan Keegan, will succeed Edmonds as head of Human Resources. He joined the company in 2003.<br /><br />John Haley, currently head of Operational Risk, will serve as interim head of Internal Audit while the company conducts a search to fill the position. Haley previously served as head of Internal Audit at a predecessor institution.<br /><br />As part of the transition, Regions has created a new Operating Committee, which will work with the Executive Council to ensure a strong connection between geographic leadership, the line of business leaders, and key support functions. In addition to the members of the Executive Council, the Operating Committee will include the four Regional Presidents, who are responsible for banking operations across all 16 states; the executive in Finance responsible for those banking operations; the head of Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., Regions’ investment and securities brokerage division; the head of Operations and Technology, the Chief Marketing Officer, and the head of Human Resources.<br /><br />Biographical information<br /><br />David Turner, 46, has led Regions’ Internal Audit Department since 2006 and served as general auditor for a predecessor to Regions beginning in 2005. During his tenure at Regions, Turner has played a critical leadership role in multiple internal projects. A certified public accountant, Turner was previously an audit partner for KPMG working on several regional bank accounts. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and joined Arthur Andersen, where he worked until joining KPMG in 2002.<br /><br />David Edmonds, 56, has served as head of Human Resources at Regions since 2006 and had led Human Resources at a predecessor institution since 1994. Prior to that, Edmonds served as the director of Human Resources for Pepsi-Cola’s Southeast region. Before joining Pepsi-Cola, he was employed in the Human Resources division of Mobil Oil Corporation. Edmonds received his bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.