Projo Biz Blog

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Lawrence K. Fish speaks with business leaders at a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce meeting last month.

Lawrence K. Fish announced today that he is retiring from all "day-to-day" responsibilities at Providence-based Citizens Financial Group.

Fish, one of the state's best-known business leaders, relinquished direct control over Citizens in March, when he was replaced as the bank's chief executive officer. At the time, he said he was taking on more broad responsibilities for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Citizens' parent company. He adopted a new title, chairman of RBS America, a new organizational unit.

But only nine months later, Fish is diminishing his role, becoming "non-executive" chairman of RBS America and Citizens Financial Group. His announcement, in a letter to employees today, reflected on his career at the bank.

"After 15 remarkable years, I am enormously proud of what we have built together," Fish said. "A small Rhode Island savings bank has become one of the 10 largest commercial banking companies in America."

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