Regions Financial Announces Leadership Transition as Dave Keenan Prepares for Retirement
Regions Financial Corp. has announced a series of executive leadership changes designed to support long-term growth, strengthen succession planning and maintain continuity across key areas of the organization. The changes include the planned retirement of Chief Administrative Officer Dave Keenan at the end of 2026, along with the appointment of Kate Danella as his successor.
Danella, who currently leads Consumer Banking, will move into the Chief Administrative Officer role. John Jordan, currently a senior leader within the Consumer Banking organization, will succeed Danella as head of Consumer Banking. In addition, Chief People Officer Angela Santone will begin reporting directly to Regions Chairman, President and CEO John Turner.
The leadership changes reflect Regions’ long-standing focus on developing internal talent and preparing experienced executives to assume broader responsibilities. The company said the succession plan is intended to provide a smooth transition while maintaining momentum across strategic planning, customer experience, digital banking, workplace culture and business growth.
Keenan’s planned retirement represents the conclusion of more than two decades of service to Regions and its predecessor organization, during which he held several influential leadership positions and played a major role in developing the company’s people and organizational strategy.
Dave Keenan to Retire After More Than 20 Years With Regions
Keenan has been an important member of Regions’ leadership team for more than two decades. He joined the company’s predecessor, AmSouth, in 2003, initially leading the Field Human Resources Group.
Over the course of his career, Keenan developed a reputation for emphasizing teamwork, employee engagement and principled leadership. His responsibilities expanded significantly as he took on increasingly senior roles within the organization.
Before becoming Chief Administrative Officer, Keenan spent approximately a decade leading Human Resources at Regions. In that role, he helped shape the company’s approach to talent development, employee engagement and workplace culture.
Since 2020, Keenan has served as Chief Administrative Officer, overseeing multiple business functions and helping coordinate activities across the organization. His leadership has focused on bringing different business areas together and ensuring that the company maintains a people-first approach while pursuing its strategic objectives.
Regions has also received repeated recognition from Gallup as an exceptional workplace, an achievement the company has associated in part with its emphasis on employee engagement and organizational culture.
John Turner, Chairman, President and CEO of Regions Financial, praised Keenan’s contributions and his commitment to developing future leaders.
Turner said Keenan’s leadership has strengthened multiple areas of the organization and that his focus on developing talent has positioned Regions for continued growth. He also highlighted Keenan’s judgment, integrity and commitment to doing what is right for the company.
Keenan said his decision to retire was made with confidence in the company’s leadership team and the talent available to take on expanded responsibilities.
He noted that while leaving an organization he has valued for many years is difficult, the timing is right for him personally and Regions has strong leaders prepared to move into their next stages of leadership.
Kate Danella Named Chief Administrative Officer
Kate Danella will succeed Keenan as Chief Administrative Officer, bringing extensive experience across several areas of banking and financial services to the position.
Danella joined Regions in 2015 and has held a series of increasingly senior positions during her tenure. Her experience has included wealth management, strategy, client experience and consumer banking.
She initially served as Wealth Strategy and Effectiveness Executive before moving into leadership of Regions Private Wealth Management. She later became Chief Strategy and Client Experience Officer, where she played an important role in shaping the company’s strategic planning and customer experience initiatives.
In 2022, Danella was appointed to lead Regions’ Consumer Banking organization. In that role, she has overseen the bank’s retail branch network, Regions Mortgage and its Indirect Lending and Partnerships group.
Her move to Chief Administrative Officer will broaden her responsibilities considerably. She will oversee and help guide several functions that are central to Regions’ future strategy, including strategic planning, digital banking, core platform modernization and transformation, community and market engagement, corporate marketing and communications, and customer advocacy.
Danella said Regions has opportunities to grow by leveraging its presence in attractive markets, its established customer relationships and its value proposition.
She emphasized that the company’s approach to customer service, community involvement and brand development will remain important elements of its growth strategy.
Focus on Digital Transformation and Customer Experience
Danella’s new responsibilities place her at the center of several initiatives designed to modernize Regions and improve how the bank serves customers.
Digital banking is increasingly important as customers expect convenient and intuitive ways to manage their finances. At the same time, banks continue to invest in technology and modern infrastructure to improve efficiency, strengthen capabilities and support new products and services.
As Chief Administrative Officer, Danella will have responsibility for teams involved in digital banking and core platform modernization. These areas are expected to play an important role in Regions’ ability to compete in an evolving financial services industry.
Her previous experience as Chief Strategy and Client Experience Officer provides a strong foundation for these responsibilities. That role gave her exposure to the connection between strategic planning, technology, customer needs and business performance.
Turner described Danella as a natural fit for the Chief Administrative Officer position because of her broad banking experience and understanding of changing customer expectations.
He also pointed to her commitment to innovation and continuous improvement as important qualities that will help Regions expand its reach and strengthen its services.
John Jordan to Lead Consumer Banking
As Danella transitions into her new role, John Jordan will become head of Consumer Banking.
Jordan joined Regions in 2024 as head of Retail within the Consumer Banking organization. Before joining Regions, he spent more than 20 years at Bank of America, where he held senior positions spanning retail banking, strategy, client experience and talent development.
His experience provides him with a broad understanding of the needs of consumers, retail banking teams and small-business customers.
During his time at Regions, Jordan has focused on accelerating branch banking growth across the company’s 15-state retail footprint. He has also worked to strengthen services and performance for small-business clients.
Another area of focus has been employee development. Jordan has helped expand career opportunities for retail banking associates while also working to reduce employee turnover.
These priorities are particularly relevant to Consumer Banking, where customer relationships are closely connected to the performance and engagement of frontline banking teams.
Strengthening Regions’ Retail Banking Franchise
Consumer Banking is a critical component of Regions’ overall business, providing customers with access to branches, mortgage services and other financial products.
Jordan’s appointment comes as the banking industry continues to evolve around changing customer expectations. Consumers increasingly use digital channels for everyday transactions while still valuing personal relationships and advice for more complex financial needs.
This creates an opportunity for banks to combine digital convenience with personalized service.
Jordan’s background in retail banking and client experience positions him to lead Consumer Banking through this changing environment. His focus on helping bankers create tailored financial roadmaps for customers also aligns with Regions’ broader emphasis on relationship-based banking.
By combining digital tools with personal guidance, Regions aims to help customers navigate different stages of their financial lives.
Angela Santone to Report Directly to CEO
The leadership changes also include an expanded role for Chief People Officer Angela Santone.
Santone joined Regions in 2025 after building more than two decades of human resources experience at organizations including Turner Broadcasting System and AT&T.
Under the new leadership structure, Santone will report directly to Turner.
The change reflects the importance Regions places on talent management, employee engagement and workplace culture. Human resources functions are increasingly viewed as strategic components of financial services organizations, particularly as banks compete for skilled employees and adapt to changes in technology and workplace expectations.
Since joining Regions, Santone has worked with Turner and Keenan on initiatives related to recruiting and retaining talent, supporting business performance and increasing employee engagement.
Her direct reporting relationship with the CEO is expected to further elevate the role of people strategy within the company’s broader business agenda.
Continuing a People-First Culture
Regions has emphasized workplace culture as a central component of its leadership philosophy. The company’s approach focuses on creating an environment in which employees can develop professionally while remaining aligned with the organization’s customer and community objectives.
Keenan played a major role in establishing and strengthening this approach during his years leading Human Resources and later as Chief Administrative Officer.
The transition to Santone’s direct reporting relationship with Turner provides continuity while also giving the company’s people strategy a stronger connection to the executive leadership team.
Talent development is also closely connected to the succession changes involving Danella and Jordan. Both executives have progressed through multiple leadership positions within Regions, giving them experience across different parts of the organization.
This internal development reflects the company’s broader effort to build a pipeline of executives capable of taking on increasingly complex responsibilities.
Leadership Development at the Center of Succession Planning
Regions’ leadership changes illustrate the importance of succession planning within a large financial institution.
Rather than relying exclusively on external recruitment for senior positions, the company has developed executives through multiple roles and responsibilities.
Danella’s career at Regions provides one example. Over more than a decade, she has moved through positions involving wealth management, strategy, client experience and consumer banking before being selected to become Chief Administrative Officer.
Jordan’s transition also reflects the company’s focus on leadership development. Since joining Regions in 2024, he has gained experience leading retail banking operations and addressing growth, service and talent priorities.
Santone’s expanded role further strengthens the leadership structure around people and culture.
Turner emphasized that these appointments reflect the strength of the leadership team and the foundation created by Keenan’s efforts to develop talent throughout the organization.
A Structured Transition for Keenan
To ensure continuity, Keenan will transition into a leadership advisory role beginning September 1. In that capacity, he will work closely with Danella, Jordan, Santone and Turner through the end of the year.
This transition period is intended to provide the incoming executives with access to Keenan’s institutional knowledge and experience as they assume their new responsibilities.
A structured handover can be particularly important when an executive has spent more than two decades with an organization. Keenan’s familiarity with Regions’ operations, culture, leadership team and strategic priorities provides valuable context for the executives taking over his responsibilities.
The advisory period will also allow the company to maintain momentum while gradually transitioning responsibilities to the new leadership structure.
Preparing Regions for Future Growth
The executive appointments come at a time when banks are navigating a rapidly changing competitive environment.
Financial institutions are investing in digital technology, modernizing core infrastructure and seeking new ways to improve customer experiences. At the same time, they must maintain strong relationships with customers and communities while attracting and retaining talented employees.
Regions’ new leadership structure brings together executives with experience in strategy, consumer banking, technology transformation, human resources and customer experience.
Danella’s responsibilities will include several of the areas most closely associated with modernization and growth. Jordan will focus on Consumer Banking and strengthening the bank’s relationship-based retail franchise, while Santone will provide direct executive leadership for people strategy.
Together, the appointments are designed to reinforce the company’s ability to execute its business priorities while maintaining organizational continuity.
Celebrating Keenan’s Legacy
Although Keenan will retire at the end of 2026, Regions expects his influence to continue through the leadership team and organizational culture he helped build.
His career has included more than 20 years of service, including leadership of Human Resources and the Chief Administrative Officer function.
His emphasis on developing people, strengthening teamwork and supporting employee engagement has made leadership development an important part of Regions’ organizational strategy.
Turner said he is proud to work with Danella, Jordan and Santone and described their appointments as evidence of the leadership foundation developed over the years.
He specifically credited Keenan’s legacy of building strong teams and preparing future leaders.
Regions’ leadership transition represents a carefully planned change designed to preserve continuity while preparing the company for its next phase.
Keenan’s retirement marks the end of a significant chapter in Regions’ history, but the succession plan ensures that experienced executives are ready to assume expanded responsibilities.
Danella will bring her experience in strategy, customer experience, wealth management and Consumer Banking to the Chief Administrative Officer role. Jordan will use his retail banking and client experience background to lead Consumer Banking, while Santone will take on an elevated role overseeing people strategy with a direct reporting relationship to the CEO.
The appointments also demonstrate Regions’ continued focus on developing leaders from within the organization and preparing them for future responsibilities.
As the transition progresses through the remainder of 2026, the bank will focus on maintaining business momentum, strengthening customer relationships, advancing digital and technology initiatives, supporting employees and continuing to serve the communities in which it operates.
With Keenan providing leadership support through the end of the year, Regions expects the transition to be orderly and collaborative. The company believes the combination of experienced leadership, internal talent development and a strong people-first culture will provide a solid foundation for continued growth.
The changes ultimately represent more than a series of executive appointments. They reflect Regions’ broader approach to succession planning, leadership development and organizational continuity. By preparing its next generation of leaders while recognizing the contributions of a longtime executive, the bank is positioning itself to build on its existing strengths and pursue new opportunities in the evolving financial services industry.
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