Regions Bank has announced experienced corporate executive Angela Santone is joining the company and will serve as chief people officer effective May 12. Santone will be part of Regions’ executive leadership team and will strategically guide all HR priorities for the bank. In coordination with Regions Chairman, President, and CEO John Turner, as well as Chief Administrative Officer Dave Keenan, Santone will focus on multiple company-wide objectives, including prioritizing a strong corporate culture, building the best team, and enhancing operations.
Every year for over a decade, Regions has been recognized by Gallup as an exceptional workplace. The bank offers a collaborative environment and has earned a reputation as a place where people want to not only have a job, but also build a long-term, rewarding career.
“Regions’ reputation as a great place to work is well-earned,” Santone says. “I say ‘earned’ because establishing yourself as a great place to work can only be the result of an intentional strategy. I am honored to bring my skills and experience to a company whose leadership so deeply values having an engaged workforce and a supportive workplace.”
For years, Regions has championed making sure the best and brightest people fulfill the wide range of specialized job functions found across the bank. Santone will support the bank’s talent recruitment, retention, training, and development initiatives in today’s constantly evolving environment. Santone’s priorities will include keeping Regions at the cutting edge of not only identifying top talent internally and externally but also developing more ways for people to grow in their careers.
“Regions’ workforce is a clear competitive advantage,” Santone says. “So, it’s vitally important for us to consistently develop new and effective ways of attracting the most qualified candidates to the bank, while also helping current colleagues leverage tremendous opportunities for more professional development. The result is a strong workforce driving solid business results.”
Santone’s experience includes developing Human Resources initiatives that support broad corporate objectives, including increasing service levels, streamlining processes, and optimizing business results while improving employee performance. Santone will work with leaders of business groups throughout the bank to analyze how the Human Resources division can further complement their work to help Regions build solid, sustainable, long-term business growth.
“Regions Bank has many advantages for its associates and its customers,” Santone says. “One of our greatest strengths is where we are. From Florida to Texas, from Atlanta to Nashville, from our headquarters in Birmingham to places like Dallas, Houston and Salt Lake City, we’re operating in markets with strong local economies and a high quality of life. That gives us a great foundation for continuing to deepen our connections and relationships across the board.”
An experienced C-suite executive with more than two decades of human resources experience, Santone most recently spent four years as senior executive vice president of HR for AT&T. Reporting directly to the CEO, she was responsible for all aspects of global HR strategy and execution. Previously, she spent 18 years with Turner Broadcasting, where she developed and guided HR initiatives across the company’s 10 lines of business.
“Bringing Angela Santone to Regions will be a tremendous benefit to our teams and our customers,” says Turner. “Her experience, insights, and strategies will help us build on our reputation as an employer of choice. And her successful work in helping major brands achieve key business objectives will help Regions fully execute on our strategic plan for growth.”
“Across more than a dozen states, there are 20,000 professionals who make up the Regions team,” adds Keenan. “All of them will be positively impacted by Angela’s dedication and the commitment of our entire Human Resources team to uphold Regions’ Core Values – including Put People First, Do What is Right, and Reach Higher. We are proud to welcome Angela and look forward to growing even stronger as a team that’s deeply united in meeting the needs of our customers and communities.”
Santone earned a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Florida State University and a Master of Science in counseling and human development from Troy University.
