Truist Financial Names Jeff Dunn and Bryan Cram Interim Co-Heads of Wealth Division
Truist Financial appointed Jeff Dunn and Bryan Cram as co-heads of its wealth division on an interim basis, succeeding Brian Dowhower, who will step down from the role later this year, according to sources. Dunn currently serves as head of Truist Private Banking, specialty wealth, and institutional, while Cram oversees Truist Wealth Brokerage. Both executives report directly to Kristin Lesher, chief wholesale banking officer.
The leadership transition in the wealth division coincides with a broader executive shakeup executed by Chief Executive Officer Mike Lyons, who took the helm of the $554 billion-asset bank in September. Lyons succeeded Bill Rogers, who became executive chair as part of a planned succession strategy and plans to retire fully from the bank in April 2027, according to American Banker.
Executive Departures and Bank of America Hires Reshape Truist Leadership
The management restructuring involves several high-profile departures and strategic external hires. Dontá Wilson, chief consumer and small business banking officer and the last remaining executive management team member from the 2019 SunTrust and BB&T merger, is leaving the bank effective Dec. 31, according to a securities filing disclosed Friday. Wilson is entitled to benefits for an involuntary separation not for cause.
To fill these roles, Truist tapped Shimna Sameer—formerly a head of products, solutions, and platforms at Bank of America Private Bank who initially joined Truist in July to lead wealth management—to succeed Wilson as chief consumer-banking officer. Truist also hired Jeff Warner, a 25-year veteran of PNC who most recently served as head of small business, to be chief small-business banking officer. D. Steve Boland, the former chief administrative officer and president of retail banking at Bank of America who retired in 2025, is joining Truist as vice chair. Boland, Sameer, and Warner will all report directly to Lyons.
Asset Sales and Strategic Realignments Under New Leadership
Alongside the executive promotions, Lyons announced that Truist has signed an agreement to sell nearly all assets of LightStream, its unsecured lending platform acquired in 2012, to the Carlyle Group. The transaction includes $7.7 billion of noncore loans and is expected to close by the end of the year, generating an estimated $7.2 billion in net proceeds. Analysts following the bank note that the move signals a definitive shift away from noncore lending as management targets a return on tangible common equity of 15% in 2027.