PNC Names New Head of Operations and Technology

Bringing extensive cross-financial services experience to the job, Steven C. Van Wyk is joining Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., as head of Operations and Technology. Van Wyk will join the company as executive vice president and serve as a member of the Executive Committee, beginning in January. He will succeed Vice Chairman Thomas K. Whitford, who has announced his retirement, effective March 2013.

"Steve brings demonstrated leadership in building and enhancing information technology organizations," said James E. Rohr, PNC chairman and CEO, in a company statement. "We expect him to build on the outstanding work of Tom Whitford. During Tom's 29 year career, his leadership has been instrumental in positioning PNC to be successful throughout periods of significant growth and change."

Van Wyk comes to PNC from ING, where he has served as global chief operating officer for ING since 2007. He was promoted to that position one year after joining the company as CIO of its America's Division. Van Wyk also held several positions at Morgan Stanley from 1996 to 2006, including global CIO and global head of Operations & Technology for the Retail Division.

Shortly after he joined ING, Van Wyk spoke with Anthony O'Donnell, executive editor of BS&T sibling brand Insurance & Technology, about his philosophy on driving improvements "for both internal and external clients in the spirit of the company's 'your future, made easier' mantra." Van Wyk told I&T:

"It's a great mantra for the organization, and for us to work closely with our business partners to simplify many of our client points of interaction and reduce some of the unnecessary complexity."

[PNC has gotten results from its investments in customer retention strategies. Read USAA, ING Direct, PNC Leaders in Customer Retention, Report Says.]

Katherine Burger is Editorial Director of Bank Systems & Technology and Insurance & Technology, members of UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek Financial Services. She assumed leadership of Bank Systems & Technology in 2003 and of Insurance & Technology in 1991. In addition to ... View Full Bio