Lentini was latterly a vice president and private banker at JP Morgan, where he led a team of professionals in investment management, wealth advisory, capital advisory and banking. Previously, he was a principal at a private real estate investment firm in New York. In a prior role, he also worked at Morgan Stanley in New York, Tokyo and London.

The appointment is part of BNY Mellon's ambitious wealth management expansion in the New York Tri-State area and Long Island, which itself is a part of a broader national recruitment drive.

As of June 30, 2014, BNY Mellon had $27.9 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.6 trillion in assets under management.