BB&T appoints banking veteran to lead branding, product marketing and advertising

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BB&T announced today that it has chosen Cynthia Williams to lead its corporate branding, product marketing and advertising teams. In addition to her new responsibilities, Williams will continue to serve as chief communications officer.

"During the past 25 years, Cynthia's leadership in every area of responsibility has added value," said Steve Wiggs, BB&T's chief marketing officer and lending group manager.

"In the last two years, she has built a strategic, corporate communications function. In her new role, she will use her deep banking knowledge to further integrate our product marketing, advertising and communications functions as we continue to grow. I am very pleased she has agreed to take on this new challenge."

Williams was named executive vice president in 2010 and chief communications officer in 2009, overseeing all corporate communications for BB&T.

She was named one of the "Most Powerful Women in Finance" by Women of Color magazine in 2010. In 2009, the Winston-Salem Urban League named her Person of the Year/Corporate Leadership. Williams sits on the boards of the Winston-Salem Foundation and the Winston-Salem State University Foundation. She serves on the finance committee of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company's National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) and is a member of the BB&T Women's Leadership Council.

Williams, a seasoned banking veteran, has also worked in corporate financial controls, corporate audit and regional banking. She earned her undergraduate degree in accounting from Wayne State University and her MBA in information security from James Madison University. She is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

About BB&T Corporation

BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. with $157 billion in assets and market capitalization of $19.1 billion, as of March 31, 2011. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company operates approximately 1,800 financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services. A Fortune 500 company, BB&T is consistently recognized for outstanding client satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greenwich Associates and others. More information about BB&T and its full line of products and services is available at www.BBT.com.

SOURCE BB&T Corporation