Fifth Third Bancorp named Bruce K. Lee, former president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) to lead Fifth Third Bancorp’s Commercial Banking Division.
Lee joined Fifth Third Bank in 2001 following its acquisition of Capital Bank. He began as executive vice president, Commercial Banking Division, Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) and was named president and CEO of the Northwestern Ohio affiliate in 2002. He joined Capital Bank co-founders John S. Szuch and Robert A. Sullivan in 1988 and served as executive vice president and chief credit officer.
Lee reports to Robert A. Sullivan, executive vice president, Fifth Third Bancorp, and president and CEO, Fifth Third Bank (Cincinnati).
Lee holds a bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights College and attended the Stonier School of Banking. He serves on the board of trustees of the University of Findlay, the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo Foundation and St. John’s Jesuit High School. He is a member of the executive committee of the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce, the Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund Committee and the Young Presidents Organization.
Fifth Third Bancorp president and CEO George A. Schaefer Jr. says, “Bruce Lee has the vision, commercial banking guidance and insight integral to the continued success of our large and complex organization.”
KENDLE INTERNATIONAL INC.
Kendle appointed Andrew Babington as vice president, European sales. He will lead Kendle’s business development efforts across Europe.
He joins Kendle from a large international contract research organization, where he most recently was director of business development, Nordic region, and customer relationship director on the global business development team, with responsibility for developing global and local account plans and tactical/strategic sales and account plans for the Nordic region.
His previous industry experience includes sales roles with AB BIODISK Sweden and Sandoz/Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
Kendle also appointed Louis A. Angelucci III vice president, validation, for its AAC Consulting Group Inc. subsidiary. Angelucci will oversee day-to-day operations of the validation unit and maintain the quality and consistency of its service to clients.
POWERNET GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Robert Nilsson joined PowerNet Global Communications as vice president of business development.
Nilsson arrives from Bellevue, Wash.-based WatchMark Corp., where he was vice president of channels. He’s also worked for Marconi, Mobile Systems International, Metapath, Convergys and AT&T/NCR Corp.
At PowerNet Global, he is responsible for heading up new business development initiatives and building new partnerships in the telecommunications market.
NATIONAL CITY
National City appointed Rick Rokosz small business banking officer for the National City branches in Northern Kentucky.
Rokosz oversees the sales and development of the business banking portfolio for National City in Northern Kentucky. Previously, he worked as a middle-market relationship manager for Fifth Third Bank’s commercial division.
Rokosz earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Western Kentucky University and an MBA from Bellarmine University. He served as a member of the Madison E-Zone finance committee and is a member of the Renaissance Covington board of directors and the Covington Business Council board of directors.
National City also appointed Scott Robinson vice president and small business banking officer.
Robinson helps develop small business opportunities and is responsible for the downtown market. Previously, he worked as a business development officer in the financial industry. He is active in the Greater Cincinnati community and serves with the Greater Cincinnati Chamber.
GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE CO.
Great American Insurance Co. promoted Michael D. Pierce corporate senior vice president. Pierce assumes the role of group reporting officer for the executive liability division, the bond operations and the foreign credit insurance business. Previously, he was divisional president of Great American’s executive liability division.
In addition, the company named Gary S. Powers divisional president of the alternative markets division, Bruce R. Smith Jr. divisional president of the executive liability division and Kevin P. Gadbois divisional executive vice president of the executive liability division.
LCA-VISION INC.
LCA-Vision Inc. appointed William F. Bahl and Thomas G. Cody to its board of directors.
Bahl is co-founder and owner of Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel, an independent registered investment adviser. Prior to founding Bahl & Gaynor in 1990, he held executive positions with Northern Trust Co. in Chicago and Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati.
Cody is vice chairman of Federated Department Stores. He joined Federated in 1982 from Pan American World Airways Inc., where he served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.
