Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG) today announced the appointment of Claude E. Wade to its Board of Directors, effective March 1, 2025. Wade’s addition will temporarily expand the Citizens Board to 14 members. He will also serve on the Board’s Risk Committee.
Wade brings over 30 years of experience in operational strategy, innovation, and leadership roles, primarily with Fortune 100 companies. Currently, he serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, and Global Head of Business Operations and Claims at AIG, where he oversees business operations, claims, data, innovation, and digital teams. Prior to joining AIG in 2021, Wade was Global Head of Client Experience and Head of the Atlanta Innovation Hub at BlackRock, where he led efforts to reshape the global distribution ecosystem and enhance the digital experience for clients, driving revenue retention and operational efficiency.
“We are pleased to welcome Claude to our board of directors,” said Bruce Van Saun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Financial Group. “Claude has a proven track record of leveraging new technologies and delivering innovative customer solutions. His broad expertise and valuable insights, drawn from over three decades in financial services, will be an asset to our Board.”
In addition, Citizens announced the upcoming retirement of Wendy Watson, who will step down from the Board following the conclusion of her current term at the annual shareholders’ meeting in April 2025. Watson, who has been on the Board since 2010, serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of both the Risk Committee and the Compensation and Human Resources Committee. She is retiring under the company’s mandatory retirement policy outlined in its Corporate Governance Guidelines.
Van Saun added, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to Wendy for her exemplary leadership of the Audit Committee and her invaluable contributions over the past 14 years—a period of tremendous growth and transformation for Citizens
