Wilmington Trust, a Wilmington, Del., subsidiary of M&T Bank, has appointed 12 new wealth advisors and wealth strategists across key U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Florida, Baltimore, and Pennsylvania, according to a news release.
Through strategic hires in key U.S. markets, the company will enter the international ultra-high-net-worth space—a first for Wilmington Trust’s Wealth Management division, the company said.
“Our experience has shown us that clients prefer a dedicated advisor-led model, with a single point of contact that can marshal sophisticated wealth planning, fiduciary services, Family Wealth, and Asset Management resources from across the firm,” said Doris Meister, head of Wealth Management at Wilmington Trust.
Bill Buccella, head of U.S. markets at Wilmington Trust, said that the appointments were not just an expansion of the firm’s leadership team.
“Our plan is to continue to increase our advisor force in additional communities throughout our footprint and beyond,” he said. “The new operating model launched throughout all Wealth Management divisions is designed to move decision-making and resources closer to clients and drive growth through an increased focus on the client and the advisor.”
The new roster of appointments includes the following professionals:
-Daniel C. Shaughnessy, formerly with BNY Mellon Wealth Management, joins Wilmington Trust as senior wealth advisor, Long Island – New York Metro. Shaughnessy was previously district sales manager and vice president at HSBC, responsible for managing operations for the company’s Consumer Lending Group in the Metro New York and Long Island regions. His practice will primarily focus on serving the financial needs of business owners in the region.
- Roberta Ruddy joins Wilmington Trust as senior wealth advisor, Los Angeles. She has over 25 years of experience working with HHNW families and their advisors in developing and implementing strategies to increase, preserve and transfer wealth. She will focus on expanding the Wilmington Trust Family Wealth division internationally.
- Kathryn “Kate” Freeman brings more than 20 years of professional experience across commercial and investment banking, institutional sales, and business management to her new position of senior wealth advisor, Florida, at Wilmington Trust. She has worked in management roles at A.H. Williams & Co., Legg Mason, and Brown & Connery LLP.
- RJ Nicolli, a native of Syracuse, N.Y. since 2011, joins Wilmington Trust as wealth advisor, central and southern New York. He was formerly a senior financial advisor for M&T Bank, the parent company of Wilmington Trust. Nicolli has also held wealth management positions at Guardian Life Insurance and at Morgan Stanley.