Reporting to executive director of private banking Bill Sappington, Johnston will lead all of the firm’s private bankers and escrow bankers, while coordinating the activities of the mortgage banking officers in the field. He will also work with regional presidents and channel partners to develop private banking growth strategies.

“He will be the key point person with our regional presidents and channel partners to develop and implement private banking growth strategies,” Sappington said.

BNY Mellon has also hired Bob Larue to introduce an array of private banking, credit and lending services to registered investment advisors through BNY Mellon’s Pershing Advisor Solutions.

Over the past three years, BNY Mellon’s private banking group has hired 20 client-facing professionals and expanded its footprint in several important wealth markets such as Florida, Seattle, San Francisco and Chicago. The firm is currently in the throes of a previously-announced recruitment drive which will see its sales force swell by 50 per cent by year-end 2014. Yesterday, for example, three senior directors for business development were named in Connecticut, Los Angeles and New York .