Eastern Bank, Greater Boston’s leading local bank, is pleased to announce that Kimberly Dee, a highly accomplished retail, customer transformation and business banking executive, has been named Executive Vice President, Consumer Banking Director. She will also serve on the Bank’s Management Committee, comprised of Eastern’s most senior executives. Dee most recently served as Executive Vice President and Head of the Retail Branch Network of Citizens Financial Group, where she was a member of its Executive Leadership Group.

“Delivering a truly differentiated, personalized customer experience across a full range of banking and wealth management solutions is central to Eastern’s focus as Greater Boston’s leading local bank,” said Bob Rivers, Executive Chair and Chair of the Board of Directors of Eastern Bank. “Kim’s extensive background and deep, local knowledge make her a powerful addition to our leadership team. We are thrilled to welcome her to Eastern Bank.”

Added Rivers, “On behalf of everyone at Eastern, I would like to also express my deepest appreciation to Barbara Heinemann, who is retiring as Executive Vice President and head of our consumer bank, for her impactful leadership and many contributions to Eastern’s growth over the past 23 years. As a passionate champion of our company and the hundreds of colleagues she has led since joining Eastern in 2001, Barbara has driven the transformation of our technology, operations, and enterprise risk management functions, and consumer banking businesses. She will be greatly missed.”

Ms. Dee will have direct responsibility for Eastern’s retail, consumer lending and mortgage businesses. She brings over 20 years of banking experience at Citizens Bank, where she began her banking career and held roles with increasing responsibility across retail and business banking. Most recently in her role as Head of the Retail Branch Network, she led the strategic direction of over 1,000 branches and 6,000 financial experts, driving growth in retail, wealth and business banking product offerings and solutions. She previously served as Executive Vice President, Customer Transformation Director, where she rolled out a customer interactional model across business lines as well as a digital platform to advance capabilities for colleagues. Kim earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College Carroll School of Management. She is a former Board Member of Saint Francis House Boston and served seven years as the Braintree Girls Youth Basketball Divisional Director.

“Central to Eastern Bank’s mission is an enduring commitment to helping customers throughout all of their life journeys and to supporting our local communities, and I’m excited to join the team and help advance this focus,” said Dee, newly named Executive Vice President, Consumer Banking Director. “I am grateful to build upon Barbara’s incredible legacy, and look forward to helping to deliver an unparalleled customer experience through innovative consumer banking.”

Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Bank, added, “The exceptional attention and care all of us at Eastern collectively provide to our customers is centered on outstanding human and innovative digital interactions. We are excited to welcome Kim and believe her extensive strategic experience will serve our colleagues and customers well.”

Ms. Dee, who lives in Braintree with her family, will join Eastern Bank in early December.