Exec News

BAFT Elects Champion

Madeleine Champion, managing director of the International Coverage Unit at JPMorgan Securities, has been named president of the Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade for 2005-2006.

WaMu Hires Ops Chief

Washington Mutual (Seattle) hired Bill Steinmetz to lead its wholesale production operations group out of its facilities in Jacksonville, Fla. Steinmetz previously served as senior vice president of B2B operations for Chase Home Finance.

Retail Exec at Webster

Webster Bank (Waterbury, Conn.) named Scott McBrair executive vice president, retail banking, in charge of Webster's 153 branches and other channels. McBrair formerly served as EVP and region executive for JPMorgan Chase branches in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.

HSBC Appoints Chief Credit Officer

HSBC - North America (Prospect Heights, Ill.) appointed Bruce Fletcher as SVP and chief credit officer for retail credit, with oversight of HSBC's North American entities, including its finance corporation. Fletcher formerly was managing director of retail risk in the credit and fraud risk management office within Citigroup's consumer group.