# Kelly King > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kelly_King > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kelly_King.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_King > Source revision: 1352839796 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American banker and business executive}} {{Use American English|date=July 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Kelly King | birth_name = Kelly S. King | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|9|12}} | birth_place = [Raleigh, North Carolina](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina), U.S. | education = [East Carolina University](/source/East_Carolina_University) ([BBA](/source/Bachelor_of_Business_Administration), [MBA](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration))
[Rutgers University](/source/Rutgers_University) (Stonier Graduate School of Banking) | occupation = {{hlist|Banker|Business executive}} | years_active = 1972–2022 | known_for = Chairman and CEO of [Truist Financial](/source/Truist_Financial); CEO of [BB&T](/source/BB%26T) | spouse = | children = }} '''Kelly S. King''' (born September 12, 1948) is a retired American banking executive who served as Chairman and [CEO](/source/Chief_executive_officer) of [Truist Financial](/source/Truist_Financial), formed through the 2019 merger of [BB&T](/source/BB%26T) and [SunTrust Banks](/source/SunTrust_Banks). He previously served as Chairman and CEO of BB&T Corporation from 2009 to 2019. Over a 49-year career with BB&T and Truist, King held numerous leadership roles and is credited with guiding BB&T through the [2008 financial crisis](/source/2007%E2%80%932008_financial_crisis) and orchestrating one of the largest bank mergers in American history. ==Early life and education== King was born on September 12, 1948, in [Raleigh, North Carolina](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina).{{cite web |title=BB&T – Company Information |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222112639/http://bbt.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=18&item=100 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222112639/http://bbt.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=18&item=100 |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |access-date=March 2, 2010}} He grew up in a family of modest means, working on his family's [tobacco](/source/tobacco) farm in [Zebulon](/source/Zebulon%2C_North_Carolina), east of Raleigh, during his childhood.{{cite web |title=Power list interview: Former Truist CEO Kelly King discusses leadership and happiness |url=https://businessnc.com/power-list-interview-former-truist-ceo-kelly-king-discusses-leadership-and-happiness/ |website=Business North Carolina |date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=May 1, 2026}} During high school, he worked as a salesman selling clothing and vacuums.{{cite web |last=Berman |first=Nat |date=March 8, 2019 |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About BB&T Corp CEO Kelly King |url=https://moneyinc.com/bbt-corp-ceo-kelly-king/ |website=Money Inc |access-date=July 4, 2019}} King earned a [Bachelor of Business Administration](/source/Bachelor_of_Business_Administration) and a [Master of Business Administration](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration) from [East Carolina University](/source/East_Carolina_University) in [Greenville, North Carolina](/source/Greenville%2C_North_Carolina).{{cite web |title=Kelly S. King Bio |url=https://www.nacdonline.org/speaker-bios/kelly-s-king/ |website=National Association of Corporate Directors |access-date=May 1, 2026}} He subsequently attended the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at [Rutgers University](/source/Rutgers_University) in [Newark, New Jersey](/source/Newark%2C_New_Jersey), where his thesis on leadership later became known as the Truist Leadership Model.{{cite web |title=Kelly King |url=https://kskinvestors.com/kelly-king |website=KSK Investors |access-date=October 1, 2024}} ==Career== ===BB&T Corporation=== King joined [BB&T](/source/BB%26T)'s Management Development Program in 1972, beginning a career that would span nearly five decades.{{cite web |title=Kelly King |url=https://bpi.com/people/kelly-king/ |website=Bank Policy Institute |access-date=May 1, 2026}} Over the course of his tenure at BB&T, he held a wide range of leadership positions, including manager of the Central and Metropolitan regions, Raleigh city executive, [Charlotte](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina) business services manager, [Statesville](/source/Statesville%2C_North_Carolina) [consumer lending](/source/consumer_lending) manager, and banking manager for BB&T's branch network. He served as President of BB&T Corporation from 1996 to June 2004, and as [Chief Operating Officer](/source/Chief_operating_officer) of both BB&T Corporation and Branch Banking and Trust Company from June 2004 to December 2008.{{cite web |title=Kelly King |url=https://www.consumerbankers.com/kelly-king |website=Consumer Bankers Association |access-date=May 1, 2026}} In January 2009, King was named President and CEO of BB&T Corporation and Chairman and CEO of Branch Banking and Trust Company, succeeding [John Allison](/source/John_Allison_(banker)). He became Chairman of BB&T Corporation in January 2010. King is credited with leading BB&T to continued profitability and financial stability during the [2008 financial crisis](/source/2007%E2%80%932008_financial_crisis), and BB&T was among the first institutions to repay [TARP](/source/Troubled_Asset_Relief_Program) funds.{{cite web |title=Kelly King – Chairman @ Truist Financial |url=https://www.finnotes.org/people/kelly-king |website=Finnotes |access-date=May 1, 2026}} In January 2009, King was also named a director of the [Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond](/source/Federal_Reserve_Bank_of_Richmond). He served on the [Federal Advisory Council](/source/Federal_Advisory_Council) of the [Federal Reserve System](/source/Federal_Reserve_System) from 2013 to 2016, and served as its president in 2016. In December 2012, BB&T announced the elimination of a provision in King's contract that would have required him to step down at age 65, effectively extending his tenure as CEO.{{cite news |title=BB&T gives Kelly King three more years as CEO |url=http://www.americanbanker.com/people/bbt-gives-king-three-more-years-as-ceo-1055398-1.html |work=[American Banker](/source/American_Banker) |date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=March 1, 2013}} King established the BB&T Leadership Institute, a program aimed at providing leadership development and consultation to corporate executives, business owners, and education leaders. He also founded the BB&T Lighthouse Project, an annual employee volunteer initiative that, since 2009, has resulted in more than 640,000 volunteer hours across over 11,000 community service projects. ===Truist Financial=== In 2019, regulators approved the [merger of equals](/source/merger_of_equals) between BB&T and [SunTrust Banks](/source/SunTrust_Banks), creating [Truist Financial](/source/Truist_Financial) — at the time one of the largest bank mergers in U.S. history.{{cite web |last=Chemtob |first=Danielle |date=2019-11-19 |title=BB&T, SunTrust deal receives final approval from regulators for $66 billion merger |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article237549389.html |website=[The Charlotte Observer](/source/The_Charlotte_Observer) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120040402/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article237549389.html |archive-date=2019-11-20}} In December 2019, King became Chairman and CEO of Truist Financial Corporation, with the company relocating its headquarters to [Charlotte, North Carolina](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina).{{cite web |title=Truist Begins Leadership Transition As Longtime Exec Kelly King Retires |url=https://www.wfdd.org/2021-09-13/truist-begins-leadership-transition-as-longtime-exec-kelly-king-retires |website=WFDD |date=September 13, 2021 |access-date=May 1, 2026}} King retired as CEO of Truist in September 2021, with [William Rogers Jr.](/source/William_Rogers_(banker)), the company's president and chief operating officer, succeeding him. King remained as Executive Chairman of the Truist board until his full retirement in March 2022, concluding a 49-year career with BB&T and Truist. ===Post-retirement=== Following his retirement, King became a Senior Advisor to KSK Investors, a [Charlotte](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina)-based investment firm focused on the financial sector, working alongside his son Ken King. ==Board memberships and civic roles== Throughout his career, King served on numerous corporate and civic boards, including: * Board member of the [Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond](/source/Federal_Reserve_Bank_of_Richmond) (2009–2012) * President of the Federal Advisory Council of the [Federal Reserve System](/source/Federal_Reserve_System) (2016) * Board member of [The Clearing House](/source/The_Clearing_House) (from 2009) * Chairman of the [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina) Bankers Association board * Chairman of the North Carolina Rural Economic Center * Chairman of the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center * Chairman of the Board of Visitors, [East Carolina University](/source/East_Carolina_University) * Chairman of the Piedmont Triad Partnership * Vice Chairman of the American Bankers Council * Board member of BEST NC, Foundation for the Carolinas, Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, and the [Bank Policy Institute](/source/Bank_Policy_Institute) ==Recognition and awards== King received numerous awards and honors throughout his career: * Named one of SNL Financial's Top 5 Most Influential in the Banking Industry (2014 and 2015) * Named "Banker of the Year" by ''[American Banker](/source/American_Banker)'' magazine (2015){{cite news |title=Banker of the Year: BB&T's Kelly King |url=https://www.americanbanker.com/news/banker-of-the-year-bb-amp-ts-kelly-king |work=[American Banker](/source/American_Banker) |date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=July 4, 2019}} * Named one of BankInfoSecurity's "Top 10 Influencers in Banking InfoSec" (2015) * Old Hickory Council Distinguished Citizen Award (2016) * Inducted into the [North Carolina Business Hall of Fame](/source/North_Carolina_Business_Hall_of_Fame) (2018){{cite web |title=Financial Leaders Inducted into North Carolina Business Hall of Fame |url=https://premierinc.com/newsroom/premier-in-the-news/financial-leaders-inducted-into-north-carolina-business-hall-of-fame |website=Premier Inc |access-date=May 1, 2026}} * Named "Power Players 2019" by the [Triad Business Journal](/source/Triad_Business_Journal) (2019){{cite web |title=Power Players 2019: Kelly King |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2019/10/30/power-players-2019-kelly-king.html |website=Triad Business Journal |date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=May 2, 2023}} * Inducted into the North Carolina Banking Hall of Fame (2021) * Named Businessperson of the Year by [Charlotte Business Journal](/source/Charlotte_Business_Journal) (2021) ==Personal life== King is a resident of [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina) and is [Christian](/source/Christianity).{{cite web |title=Once and future King |url=https://businessnc.com/once-and-future-kingcategory/ |website=Business North Carolina |date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2019}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://kskinvestors.com/kelly-king Kelly King at KSK Investors] * [https://bpi.com/people/kelly-king/ Kelly King at Bank Policy Institute] * [https://www.nacdonline.org/speaker-bios/kelly-s-king/ Kelly King Bio at NACD] {{DEFAULTSORT:King, Kelly}} Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:American bankers Category:American chief executives Category:East Carolina University alumni Category:Rutgers University alumni Category:People from Raleigh, North Carolina --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kelly King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_King) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_King?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.