RBS Citizens Snags JPM Exec for Consumer Banking Role

RBS Citizens Financial Group has hired JPMorgan Chase (JPM) executive Michael J. Cleary to head its U.S. distribution for consumer banking.

Cleary will be responsible for retail branches, business banking, wealth management and online and mobile banking, among other areas, the $129 billion-asset RBS Citizens, a unit of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), said Wednesday. 

Cleary spent 13 years with JPMorgan Chase in several leadership roles, most recently as head of digital strategies, a role that he took on late last year. Before that, he was chief executive of business banking. He had also served on the JPMorgan executive committee and as chief marketing officer and chief operating officer for retail banking and as head of the private-client business.

While at JPMorgan, Cleary led the rebranding of Washington Mutual and the associated technology conversion for all of JPMorgan Chase, RBS Citizens said. The New York company acquired Washington Mutual in 2008.

Cleary has more than 30 years of senior management experience.

At RBS Citizens, Cleary will report to Brad L. Conner, vice chairman for consumer banking.