Kelly King
Kelly King is a legendary banking executive and retired Executive Chairman and CEO of Truist Financial, a premier financial services company formed from the merger between BB&T and SunTrust Bank. During his 49-year career with Truist and BB&T, King served in many leadership roles, including 35 years as part of the executive leadership team. His career at BB&T has included leadership roles in commercial and retail banking, operations, insurance, corporate financial services, investment services and capital markets. He is credited with leading BB&T to continued profitability and financial stability through the economic downturn that began in 2008. Under his leadership, BB&T was one of the first institutions to repay TARP funds. Today, King serves as a Senior Advisor to KSK Investors, an investment firm focused on the financial sector.
Kelly King Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Retired Executive Chairman
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Chairman and CEO
Academic History
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B.B.A., Business Administration and Management
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Master of Business Administration
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Board Member, BEST NC
Board Member, The Clearing House
Board Member, Foundation for the Carolinas
Board Member, Financial Services Roundtable
Board Member, North Carolina Bankers Association
Chair of the Board of Directors, NCInnovation
Chair, High Point University's National Leadership Advisory Council
TRUIST & BB&T
King is credited with leading BB&T to continued profitability and financial stability through the economic downturn beginning in 2008.
Since his first position as a commercial lending officer, he held various roles at BB&T in commercial and retail banking, operations, insurance, corporate financial services, investment services and capital markets.
He was named President and CEO of BB&T Corporation, and Chairman and CEO of Branch Banking & Trust Company in January 2009; served as COO of BB&T Corporation and Branch Banking and Trust Company from June 2004 to December 2008; and was President of BB&T Corporation from 1996 to June 2004.
He also established The BB&T Leadership Institute to provide leadership development and consultation to empower corporate executives, business owners, BB&T associates and education leaders.
EARLY CAREER
King has served as a Board Member for BEST NC, The Clearing House, Foundation for the Carolinas, Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, and the Bank Policy Institute (BPI).
Other board positions include the Federal Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve System from 2013 to 2016 and as a board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond from 2009 to 2012.
He is the former Chairman of the Board of the Piedmont Triad Partnership and also served as Vice Chairman of the American Bankers Council.
RECOGNITIONS
2021 North Carolina Banking Hall of Fame
2021 Charlotte Business Journal's Businessperson of the Year
2018 North Carolina Business Hall of Fame
2016 Old Hickory Council Distinguished Citizen Award
2015 SNL Financial's Top 5 Most Influential in the Banking Industry