By Greg Hazley
Craig Smith, who headed corporate communications at Bank of America, has moved to $170 billion southern banking rival SunTrust Banks in Atlanta as an executive VP overseeing internal and external communications.
He’s taking over for Barry Koling, who is retiring after 20 years with the company, which traces its roots to the Farmers Bank of Alexandria (1811 and the Trust Company of Georgia (1891).
Smith was at SunTrust competitor BoA in Charlotte, N.C., for more than seven years heading communications for its consumer and commercial banking operations. He previously directed corporate comms. at Colgate Palmolive.
SunTrust’s modern incarnation, which claims assets of nearly $171B and deposits of more than $118B, was created by the mid-’80s merger of TCG and SunBanks of Florida. It took $3.5 billion in federal bailout funds under TARP, which it said it will repay.
The company said Smith has formed an “expanded and centralized” corporate communications function at SunTrust. Ina statement, president William Rogers Jr. said: “We recognize the critical role that a highly effective corporate communications culture plays in our future success…”
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