Debbie Donovan Email & Phone Number

Boston, Ma, Us

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Responsible for building and implementing a centralized first-line of defense risk and internal controls framework for the retail business that complies with SEC regulations and aligns with industry best practices.

Greater Boston Area

Responsible for leading and developing a sustainable 1st line of defense risk and control functions for the retail wealth management and institutional businesses. Ensure adherence to risk standards, firm policies, industry regulations and best practices. Participate in firm-wide committees. Build collaborative relationships with the 2nd and 3rd line of defense partners from Risk, Compliance and Audit to ensure alignment of proper controls to support business initiatives and protect the company from legal and regulatory risk. Evaluate current processes and recommend technology enhancements to achieve compliance through increased efficiency and effectiveness of internal controls.

Boston Ma

Build and grow relationships within Merrill Lynch, the broader Wealth Management organization and key risk, product and legal partners to lead change, influence business direction, reduce risk and support business growth while achieving a culture of compliance.• Managed diverse risk and control functions that are regional or national in scope. Functions managed may include financial control/budgeting, personnel processes, audit/compliance and project management. • Managed ongoing routines that provide consistent communications between management and the field to provide a continuous loop for execution and feedback on risk and control issues. • Served as subject matter expert in the implementation of technology updates and changes that affect the field and monitor performance to ensure that operational quality standards are met. • Developed an Alternative Investments training and certification program for financial advisors and supervisors. Led core team of risk, compliance, legal and product associates to define, measure and implement the training and product rollout for Alternative Investment product set. • Managed annual real estate expense and capital budget. Analyzed availability of space, creation of guidelines and oversight of registered associate space sharing issues. Manage new site development and placement of wealth centers. • Created and delivered national level leadership development training to regulatory supervisors to ensure newly appointed leaders were ready to assume increased supervisory responsibilities and thus reducing regulatory risk. Realigned organizational structure to prepare for integration with Merrill Lynch. • Redefined current market job roles and responsibilities to ensure alignment with new organizational structure.

Boston, Ma

Responsible for providing business, operational and sales support to the Northeast Commercial Executive leadership team to ensure alignment and success of the regions strategic goals and business plans. • Created executive management routines to provide a forum for clear and consistent communications between executive management and field leadership. This was accomplished by establishing regular conference calls and written documentation that allowed for executive management and field leadership to discuss feedback on key risk issues. • In partnership with Corporate Workplace manage all facilities related projects, including remodels, and relocations. Manage real estate space optimization projects to control square footage and reduce occupancy expense. • Managed executive leadership Talent Planning Sessions from site selection to instructional communication and pre-work to gathering ratings for over 300+ associates.

Waltham, Ma

Delivered Group Banking products and services to internal partners to increase sales, retain clients and grow revenue. Built relationships with the Consumer and Premier Banking markets to ensure consistent product positioning in ongoing sales routines. • Identified revenue opportunities to increase sales by leveraging other business partners to include product in their sales process and incentive plans. • Trained internal associates on the benefits of Group Banking to ensure product was positioned appropriately in every sales opportunity. • Developed new marketing material that showcased the benefits of Group Banking and created “off the shelf” brochures for the consumer bank to utilize in the banking centers.

Boston, Ma

Managed the business relationship and reciprocal distribution of investment products for key strategic partners by serving as a proactive relationship manager. • Directed successful rollout of Galaxy Mutual funds onto the American Express platform and Advisor Channel. Guided marketing, sales and operations through a management team. 11,000 American Express Financial Advisors were able to offer Galaxy Mutual Funds to their customers, providing distribution opportunities that did not exist before. • Increased the distribution of American Express annuity products within Quick & Reilly by managing the launch of a new Fixed Annuity product resulting in annualized 2002 sales of $320 million.

Boston, Ma

Managed the design, development, implementation and administration of the investment sales compensation program with an annual budget of $22 Million. Consulted with Regional and market level leadership to ensure that compensation programs and plans aligned with business goals and objectives.