Michelle Hecht was recently named head of corporate affairs for Citizens Financial Group Inc. She has worked for the company for more than 16 years, most recently serving as Citizens’ head of communications. She is also a member of Citizens’ Executive Leadership Group, as well as the Citizens Foundation and Citizens Charitable Giving boards.
PBN: What are your top three priorities for your first year in this new role?
HECHT: First of all, I want to ensure that we’re serving as a strategic partner to the various nonprofit organizations we work with. My priority is to collaborate closely with our partners to understand their unique goals and challenges so that we can deliver long-term value and enable their growth and success.
Next, I’m working hard to ensure the support from Citizens is going to areas of greatest need. This means constantly listening and evolving our approach to meet the most pressing needs of our communities.
And lastly, I personally will continue building relationships and gaining understanding of the people and neighborhoods we serve. This new role offers a tremendous opportunity to get out into the local markets and meet with various organizations across our footprint that are doing incredible work. Engaging with these organizations and empowering them to do more is what truly inspires me.
PBN: How does your existing experience at Citizens, most recently as head of communications, relate to your new duties?
HECHT: Over more than 16 years with Citizens, in various roles encompassing communications, marketing, strategy, sales management and more, I’ve seen firsthand the value that communication can bring to an organization. It’s woven into everything we do and a critical component in ensuring we’re having the greatest impact.
In my career, I’ve had a steadfast commitment to keeping two-way lines of communication open and ensuring that I’m engaging with and informing all constituents. I certainly bring that with me in my new role leading corporate affairs. I firmly believe in the power of open communication to build bridges and build on the trust at the heart of every relationship.
My tenure at Citizens, constantly engaging with stakeholders inside and outside of the company, has also given me a deep understanding of just how important our work in the community is to every stakeholder. It’s deeply ingrained in the culture here and really at the core of our identity. I think that understanding and respect is perhaps the most important aspect of doing this job well.
PBN: What is the importance of philanthropy and volunteerism for the company’s overall growth and bottom line?
HECHT: Ultimately, we can only thrive as an organization when our communities thrive. We believe in playing an active part in fostering the well-being of our neighbors and neighborhoods, not just because it’s the right thing to do but because this work builds stronger communities – the same communities where we live and work.
Through volunteerism and our investments in impactful partnerships and programs, we’re helping our communities meet their potential. We’re enabling economic revitalization in areas such as workforce development and financial literacy and providing individuals with the foundation for long-term economic security, making us all stronger as a society.
Our work in the community also builds trust; it deepens our understanding of those that we serve, which is a business imperative. The relationship between corporate responsibility and financial performance has been well established. Investments in corporate responsibility prove to not only bring meaningful social impact but also return on investment and value to the bottom line.
PBN: How does Citizens’ expanding reach, including in the New York City market thanks to recent acquisitions, determine the geographic focus of your philanthropy and engagement efforts? Is it difficult to keep your attention on such a wide area?
HECHT: Citizens is led by an experienced board and management team with a history of disciplined execution. As we adapt the organization to new priorities, such as expanding our reach to new geographies, we do so by thoughtfully allocating financial and talent resources to position the company for future success. So, I don’t think that it’s difficult to keep our attention on a wider area because we’re guided by an enterprisewide strategy, aligned on our priorities and we hire very smart people whom we trust to carry out that strategy.
As we expand our reach, we also expand our team, and we’ve got colleagues on the ground with an intimate knowledge of their local market whom we empower to ensure that we’re maintaining focus and doing the right thing. I’m energized and inspired by the opportunity to expand our reach because we’ve got the right people in the right positions to do so responsibly, and it gives us the ability to help more people in more communities.
PBN: Citizens is one of many companies that committed to racial equity and diversity efforts in 2020. How is this being incorporated into community engagement, philanthropy and volunteering?
HECHT: The global movement in 2020 calling for racial justice and equality moved all of us to reflect, to listen with open minds and have difficult conversations in order to help drive real and lasting progress. We value the opportunity to share our journey and the progress we’re making in this critical area because this commitment is woven into the fabric of our company. It all goes back to one of our core values: to do the right thing and act with integrity to ensure everyone feels valued, respected and heard.
This commitment to building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive future is an essential driver of our community engagement, philanthropy and volunteering. Knowing the pivotal role the bank plays in our communities only heightens our responsibility to accelerate progress and lasting change. Whether empowering a diverse workforce, providing grants to minority-owned businesses or establishing partnerships with diverse community organizations, we are focused on providing people with accessibility to the economic opportunities they deserve.
Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Lavin@PBN.com.
