Sandy Pierce, vice chairman of FirstMerit Corporation, named one of American Banker's 2014 Most Powerful Women in Banking

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandy Pierce, vice chairman of FirstMerit Corporation (Nasdaq: FMER) and chairman and CEO of FirstMerit Michigan, has been named one of The Most Powerful Women in Banking for 2014 by American Banker. This annual ranking evaluates each candidate on her impact at her company, on the industry and in the community, leadership skills in the face of professional challenges, and on qualities such as innovation.

Pierce was honored for her role in leading a series of meetings with executives and employees at all levels of the company to discuss which processes and procedures are working well and which could be improved. These meetings were held across the five-state footprint that resulted from FirstMerit's acquisition of Citizens Republic Bancorp in 2013. Feedback from these meetings has resulted in a number of internal enhancements – some big, some small, some completed, some still scheduled, and more to be identified as this is an ongoing improvement process. Driving these improvements is the goal of providing customers with the best possible service.

"I am honored to be included in this group of distinguished bankers," Pierce said. "I have the good fortune of working with a team of dedicated professionals who care about each other, our customers, and our communities. That makes this work fulfilling every day."

Pierce joined FirstMerit in 2013 and has direct oversight of and responsibility for Retail Banking, Wealth Management Services, and Corporate Marketing for FirstMerit Corporation and coordination of FirstMerit's business activities in the state of Michigan.

She began her successful and diverse career in 1978 when she joined NBD Bancorp as a teller while attending Wayne State University. Upon graduation, she held a number of significant roles in commercial banking, retail banking, marketing and private client services at NBD and its successor organizations First Chicago NBD, Bank One, and JP Morgan Chase. Prior to joining FirstMerit, Pierce was Midwest Regional Executive, President and CEO for Charter One Bank, Michigan, a division of RBS Citizens, N.A. where she had responsibilities for commercial banking and all state bank activities in Michigan as well as oversight of all state activities in Illinois and Ohio and was a member of Citizens Financial Group's Executive Leadership Group and the Midwest Regional Advisory Board.

A native of Detroit, Pierce is a 1980 graduate of Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration / Marketing degree. She earned a Masters of Business Administration / Finance degree from Wayne State University in 1984. She is a board member of Barton Malow Enterprises and Penske Automotive Group. She serves as Chair of the Detroit Financial Advisory Board and chair of the Henry Ford Health System. Current and past business associations and civic involvements include board membership on Business Leaders for Michigan (Vice Chairman, Executive Committee, Audit Chair); Detroit Economic Club (Board of Directors; Executive Committee); Detroit Regional Chamber (Prior Chair); the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy; Detroit Zoological Society; Downtown Detroit Partnership; Invest Detroit; New Detroit, Inc., and The Parade Company (Chair, Board of Directors).

About FirstMerit 

FirstMerit Corporation is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with assets of approximately $24.6 billion as of June 30, 2014, and 379 banking offices and 412 ATM locations in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Pennsylvania. FirstMerit provides a complete range of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through its core operations. Principal affiliates include: FirstMerit Bank, N.A., FirstMerit Mortgage Corporation and FirstMerit Title Agency, Ltd. For more information, visit us at firstmerit.com.

About The Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance

The Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance recognizes the professional achievements, personal tenacity and overall influence of the industry's top-performing female executives. The program encompasses four lists: the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking™, the 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance, the 25 Women to Watch, and the Top Banking Teams. The rankings and details about the awards dinner are available in their entirety at AmericanBanker.com/women-in-banking. The first list of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking appeared in 2003. American Banker is proud to continue the tradition of celebrating high-achieving women in the industry.

About American Banker and American Banker Magazine

American Banker (AmericanBanker.com) is the banking industry's most powerful digital and daily print resource for news, analysis, opinion and perspective about financial institutions, regulation, risk management, bank technology and market trends.

American Banker Magazine is a monthly publication geared specifically toward bank executives and banking practitioners, reporting on the people, trends and data that are redefining the financial services landscape. Every issue includes briefings on developments from around the industry, data analysis pieces and a collection of feature stories on a wide array of topics affecting the industry.

FirstMerit Corporation
Media Contact: Rob Townsend
Phone: 330.384.7075
E-mail: [email protected]

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SOURCE FirstMerit Corporation