Flagstar Bank, the bank subsidiary of New York Community Bancorp (NYCB), has announced the appointment of nine seasoned leaders to its leadership team, effective immediately. These additions further enhance the company’s oversight of core businesses and client-focused operations, bringing a blend of financial, commercial, private banking, IT, credit, and regulatory pedigree to the organization.
Joining the leadership team and reporting to Joseph M. Otting, Chairman, President, and CEO of NYCB and of its bank subsidiary, Flagstar Bank, are the following:
Richard Raffetto, SEVP, President of Commercial and Private Banking: Raffetto joins Flagstar Bank with more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry, and more than 20 years serving in executive leadership positions and building commercial, corporate, and private banking teams. From 2020 to 2024, Rich served as President and Director of City National Bank, the U.S. commercial and private banking subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada. He most recently led their commercial lines of business and products, including its leasing, treasury management, payments, and capital markets units. Prior to that, he spent approximately 13 years at U.S. Bank in senior roles in its commercial and corporate banking organization, and 14 years at BNY Mellon in its corporate banking client management unit.
Kris Gagnon, SEVP, Chief Credit Officer: Gagnon brings more than 35 years of banking leadership experience to the team having spent 30 years at Bank of America in various senior leadership roles, including as Enterprise Credit Risk Executive, Chief Risk Officer of the Global Corporate and Commercial Bank, and Chief Credit Officer for the Commercial Banking, Leasing and Global Treasury Services Division. Following those roles, Kris served as Chief Credit Officer at Banc of California and CIT Bank (formerly known as OneWest Bank).
Adam Feit, EVP, and Head of Specialized Industries Banking and Capital Markets: Feit brings more than 20 years of experience covering and advising clients, structuring, and underwriting deals, and leading teams in global corporate and investment banking, capital markets, mid-cap banking, middle market banking and business banking. In this role, he will lead the client coverage and expansion efforts across industry verticals and capital markets products. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and Head of Specialized Industries at U.S. Bank (formerly MUFG Union Bank). Prior to his time with U.S. Bank, he worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch as an SVP in Global Commercial Banking and VP in Global Corporate and Investment Banking. Adam will report to Rich Raffetto, President of Commercial and Private Banking.- William Fitzgerald, EVP, Head of Workout-Commercial: Fitzgerald brings more than 30 years of experience as a senior banking executive with expertise in commercial real estate, loan management, asset management, and financial restructuring and recovery. Most recently, he served as SVP, Head of Commercial Real Estate Resolution at First Citizens Bank, where he established and built the commercial real estate restructuring group to manage the non-owner-occupied classified real estate across the bank. His prior roles include SVP, Head of Problem Loan Management at First Citizens Bank, and Managing Director, Regional Head Special Asset Management at Rabobank North America Wholesale. Earlier in his career, he was with ABN AMRO Bank as Group SVP with global restructuring responsibilities. He will report to Chief Credit Officer Kris Gagnon.
Don Howard, EVP, Director of Regulatory Governance, Risk & Controls: Howard brings more than 30 years’ experience as a senior executive, consultant, regulator, and Board Member with experience in global risk management, credit, compliance, and strategy. Most recently he served as Managing Director, Compliance Global Transformation Lead at Citibank, where he led all Federal Reserve and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) work focused on Governance, Risk and Compliance. Prior roles include Chief Compliance Officer at USAA, and Chief Risk Officer at S&P Global. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 15 years at Bank of America as Managing Director, Structured Credit Product, Portfolio Management.
Sydney Menefee, EVP, Senior Director, Strategic Financial & Capital Management: Menefee brings 20-plus years of experience as an executive leader in the financial services industry with expertise in complex bank regulation, accounting, and financial reporting matters. In this role, Sydney will focus on the bank’s strategic, capital, and financial planning functions. Most recently, she was a partner at Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm. Prior roles include Senior Deputy Comptroller for Midsize and Community Bank Supervision, Deputy Comptroller and Chief Accountant, and National Bank Examiner at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Sydney will report to Chief Financial Officer, Craig Gifford.
Robert Phelps, EVP, Special Advisor to the CEO: Phelps is a former OCC executive, where he held several senior leadership roles in bank supervision. In this role, Bob will support the continued enhancement of Flagstar’s IT capabilities working closely with existing IT leadership. During his 30-year tenure with the OCC, his roles included Chair of the National Risk Committee, Deputy Comptroller of Supervision Risk Management, and leading the creation of the Supervision System and Analytics Support Division. Bob provided oversight of the OCC’s supervisory data and systems upgrade. He also served as the OCC’s Director for Critical Infrastructure Policy, overseeing development of a cybersecurity supervisory policy and coordination with other financial regulators. Bob is a retired U.S. Navy Commander and served in several major operations. He supports the Naval Academy as a Blue and Gold Officer. He is also a certified coach, supporting leaders to achieve more professionally and personally.
Bryan Hubbard, SVP, Senior Regulatory Program Manager: Hubbard brings more than 30 years of experience in providing strategic counsel to CEOs and senior federal officials focusing on media relations, regulatory affairs, policy, and reputation. At Flagstar, Bryan will focus on enhancing regulatory relationships, communication, and remediation efforts. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs at the OCC where he led strategic communication and public affairs for the agency overseeing a $15 trillion federal banking system. His service at the OCC spanned four presidential administrations, periods of growth, recession, and crisis. Prior roles include serving in senior positions in the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and in the private sector.
Tom Lyons, SVP, Director of Finance Business Risk & Controls: Lyons brings 30 years of experience in finance, risk, IT, operations, compliance, and audit disciplines across industries. In this role, Tom will lead the Bank’s Finance Risk Management function, including data, operational, and financial exposures. Most recently, Tom served as U.S. Bank’s SVP of Operations’ Financial and Data Risks. Tom also held Finance Chief Risk Officer and Senior Risk Officer roles at U.S. Bank, having led its SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) program for 14 years. Tom will report to Chief Financial Officer, Craig Gifford.
“Driving progress, growth, and long-term stakeholder value requires a vision and the right leadership team to execute against that plan,” said Otting. “Welcoming these new senior leaders, who possess specialized and unique skill sets, underscores our commitment to excellence and the strategic transformation currently underway. Their collective wealth of experience will be instrumental in enhancing our focus on exceptional service, operational efficiency, and positioning the company for sustainable growth.”
