OCC names next deputy comptroller and chief accountant

OCC — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has appointed Amanda Freedle as its next deputy comptroller and chief accountant.

Freedle will lead the OCC’s efforts in bank accounting and financial reporting. In her new role, effective March 28, 2022, she will provide accounting counsel to examiners, the banking industry and the accounting profession.

She most recently held the position of deputy chief accountant, having joined the OCC’s Office of the Chief Accountant in January 2009 as a senior accounting policy advisor.

Truist Financial (TFC) — Bill Rogers, CEO of Truist Financial, will succeed Kelly King as board chair.

Effective March 12, 2022, Rogers will become chairman of the board and Thomas Skains succeeds David Ratcliffe to become lead independent director.

King will step down from the role as previously announced, but she will remain on the board, as will Ratcliffe.

Rogers has served as CEO of Truist since September 2021, when he moved from the role of president and COO. Previously, he served as chairman and CEO of SunTrust Bank, until its merger with BB&T to form Truist.

Skains is the retired CEO of Piedmont Natural Gas Company. He serves on the board, as well as on the board of directors of Duke Energy Corporation and National Fuel Gas Company.

GoldenTree Asset Management — The New York-based asset manager has appointed Avi Felman as head of digital assets trading.

Felman will be a principal of the firm, and will report to Joe Naggar, partner and member of the executive committee, who oversees GoldenTree’s digital asset investments.

Felman will also assume the position of general partner of GoldenChain, a subsidiary of GoldenTree which will manage the digital asset-focused funds launched by GoldenTree.

Previously, Felman was co-portfolio manager and head of trading for BlockTower Capital.

United Bank — The board of United Bank has approved the promotion of Julie Gurtis to president, effective April 1, 2022. Gurtis currently serves as the bank’s EVP and chief commercial banking officer.

United’s president Michael Fitzgerald will become vice chairman of the board of directors.