Citizens Financial Group has promoted Brendan Coughlin to president. Coughlin, currently vice chair and head of consumer, private banking and wealth, will report to Bruce Van Saun, chairman and CEO.
As president, Coughlin will continue to lead consumer banking, Citizens Private Bank, and wealth, while adding responsibility for enterprise data and analytics and marketing.
“Brendan has a long track record of strong leadership and execution against some of our most important initiatives, and he has earned the trust and respect of our stakeholders, including the Board and our colleagues,” said Van Saun. “His efforts have contributed significantly to our transformation into a top super-regional bank, and I am confident that his passion and leadership will continue to propel Citizens forward.”
During his 20-year tenure at Citizens, Coughlin has played a key role in launching several initiatives, including merchant point-of-sale financing with Apple and Microsoft, national education refinance offerings, and geographic expansion of the consumer franchise. In 2023, he led the national launch of Citizens Private Bank, which has reached $8.7 billion in deposits and $5.2 billion in assets under management. Under his leadership, the bank has also expanded its wealth management presence in California, Boston and Florida.
“I appreciate the vote of confidence from Bruce and the Board in being named President,” said Coughlin. “I look forward to delivering on our objectives and continuing to create value for our shareholders, customers, colleagues, and communities.”
Citizens also announced that John Woods, vice chair and chief financial officer, will leave the company in August 2025 to pursue another opportunity. A formal internal and external search for his successor is underway. Woods will remain with the bank during the transition.
“John has been important to our success at Citizens over the last eight years, during which he has been instrumental in shaping our long-term financial strategy and delivering on our growth objectives while navigating a complex economic landscape,” said Van Saun. “I’ve enjoyed working with him, I am grateful for his contributions and I wish him the best in his next chapter.”
