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Joseph P. Campanelli is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Sovereign Bank, a $90 billion financial institution serving two million households across the Northeastern United States. Campanelli oversees the bank’s operations including 800 Community Banking Offices, 2,000 ATMs and 12,000 team members from New Hampshire to Maryland. Previously, Campanelli served as vice chairman of Sovereign Bancorp and president and CEO of Sovereign Bank’s New England division.
Campanelli joined Sovereign Bank in 1997 when it acquired Fleet Financial Group's indirect auto lending business, which he had headed. He became president and chief operating officer of Sovereign's New England Division in 1999 when Sovereign acquired 268 branches that Fleet had to divest after its merger with BankBoston Corp. Campanelli played an active role in the branches' acquisition and integration, which at the time was the largest branch divestiture in U.S. history.
Prior to establishing Sovereign's presence in New England, Joe spent nearly 20 years serving in a variety of executive positions with both Fleet and Shawmut Bank. He began his banking career in Hartford, Conn. in 1979. In 1983, he led the company's interstate banking activities opening offices in Boston and the Rhode Island area.
Recognized as an innovative leader, Campanelli has been instrumental in establishing key economic development programs with a variety of agencies and industry groups. A member of the Massachusetts Job Growth Task Force, he introduced two programs in conjunction with State Treasurer Timothy Cahill designed to encourage job growth and home ownership in the Commonwealth: The Sovereign Bank Job Foundation Loan Program for small businesses and the Massachusetts Educator Home Loan Program.
An active member of the community, Campanelli is chairman of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, a non-profit, nonpartisan, statewide public affairs organization of CEOs representing Massachusetts' leading industry and business enterprises.
Campanelli also serves as chairman of the board of trustees for Tufts-New England Medical Center. In addition, he plays a leadership role with the United Ways of New England and serves as chairman for the organization's 2006 fund drive. He is also a director of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston and serves on the board of trustees at Suffield Academy in Suffield, Conn. A graduate of Babson College in Babson Park, Mass., Campanelli holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with high distinction. | 