Robin Elkowitz – Citizens Financial Group

Meeting customer, shareholder, community and regulatory expectations is essential for financial services institutions.  Environmental, social and governance topics have come into focus as investors, regulators and customers want information on how these areas impact an organization’s overall financial health and risk management practices.

Having strong corporate governance practices in place helps mitigate potential negative impacts on the institution’s reputation and finances, including financial irregularities, fraud, and other legal issues. This creates a stable, accountable, transparent environment that attracts investors.

Luckily for Citizens Financial Group, Robin Elkowitz is on the team and plays a pivotal role in the company’s corporate governance initiatives.

Robin Elkowitz | Citizens Financial Group | Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Founded in 1828 and headquartered in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens Financial Group operates branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. It has about 18,000 employees and is one of the largest banks in the U.S. In 2014, Citizens became a publicly traded company on the NYSE in the largest banking IPO in U.S. history.  It completed its total separation from its parent company in 2015 and in September of this year, will celebrate its 10th anniversary as a public company.

A mindset of robust corporate governance

Elkowitz’s dedication to a strong corporate governance culture is exemplified through several key initiatives. She and her team are responsible for the corporate governance pillar in the company’s ESG framework.

They meticulously manage the organization and execution of board and board committee meetings, including planning agendas, coordinating logistics, and ensuring that meetings run smoothly.

They collaborate with management and board leadership to ensure that the board fulfills its governance obligations. This involves overseeing the structure, composition, and governance practices and keeping the board informed about key developments in corporate governance.

“This is one of the most important aspects of our work. A strong corporate governance culture starts with setting the appropriate tone at the top and leading by example.  We are fortunate to have a board that is committed to our corporate credo of performing our best every day so we can do more for our customers, colleagues, communities and shareholders.”

The team handles the required shareholder communications, such as organizing the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and preparing the Proxy Statement. Additionally, they manage outreach efforts and responses to shareholder proposals, coordinating with the registrar and transfer agent on CFG securities transactions.

Advising the finance team on capital transactions, they manage the related SEC, NYSE, and other regulatory disclosures, ensuring compliance with all legal requirements. Ensuring that the organization meets all legal and regulatory requirements related to public disclosures is a core responsibility of the Office of the Corporate Secretary.

They also ensure that all legal entities under the CFG umbrella comply with necessary legal and regulatory governance requirements. Robin Elkowitz and her team’s efforts in these areas help maintain the integrity of CFG’s corporate governance and support compliance with regulatory requirements. Their work ensures transparency, accountability, and effective communication with shareholders and regulatory bodies.

“These efforts have been well-regarded by shareholders,” Elkowitz says.

Leading her team

Elkowitz’s team has also ensured the company’s transparent and comprehensive disclosure practices. They worked with the company’s Sustainability team in publishing the company’s 2023 ESG Report and 2024 Climate Report, which provide detailed information on the company’s initiatives, practices, and metrics. Collaborations with Investor Relations, Finance and other departments have ensured that all periodic disclosures, including the Form 10-K, present timely, accurate and complete information as required by law or regulation.

“Our team helps ensure clear, accurate and consistent enterprise-wide disclosures that meet all legal and regulatory obligations,” she explains.

With a team of seven full-time employees, Elkowitz says her department—and the company—aim to distinguish themselves by offering a corporate culture in which colleagues can work, learn and thrive. After all, the company’s corporate mission is to help customers, colleagues and communities reach their potential.

There will always be a battle to hire and retain the best and brightest, especially those with specialized skills. Elkowitz says she works closely with the company’s human resources department to ensure access to a robust and diverse pipeline of potential talent and maintain a culture of excellence in the department.

“Amongst our goals is to look for ways to expand our external networking capabilities to make sure we are drawing from the largest and most diverse talent pool available,” Elkowitz says. “We also cultivate initiatives to support an inclusive culture throughout the department and welcome input from all of our legal department colleagues.”

Finding the law

Elkowitz’s path to becoming an attorney was not conventional, especially considering that no one in her family had ever attended law school, and it wasn’t initially on her radar. She majored in finance and accounting as an undergraduate and earned a degree from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania. Her interest in law was piqued when she took a business law class as part of her studies. This class sparked the idea that a career in law could effectively merge her interests in problem-solving and communication.

Upon graduating from New York University School of Law, Elkowitz joined a large Wall Street law firm’s corporate department, initially envisioning a future as a partner. However, she quickly realized that interacting with clients was the most rewarding part of her job.

“I enjoyed learning about their businesses and the transactions we were undertaking, and I always found myself curious about the outcomes of these ventures,” Elkowitz recalls.

This client-centric passion eventually led her to explore opportunities as in-house counsel, a role not originally part of her career plan.

Her first in-house role was at an investment bank, where her responsibilities continuously evolved. She moved from focusing on corporate compliance and trading activities to corporate governance and securities roles. This transition allowed her to stay engaged with the client aspects she loved while offering a broader view of a company’s journey and the impact of transactions over time.

Throughout her career, Elkowitz has witnessed significant changes in finance law, driven by technological advancements, new products, evolving business practices and shifts in regulatory landscapes. For her, technology has made work as a corporate attorney faster and more efficient. She also notes the positive shift toward greater representation of women in corporate and securities law roles compared to when she began her career over three decades ago.

One of the biggest challenges Elkowitz has faced was learning to embrace change, recognizing that change is constant in today’s world. She experienced this firsthand as the companies she worked for underwent acquisitions, and her job responsibilities evolved. As her family grew, she had to adapt to new technologies, corporate cultures, and work-life balance.

“In the modern business environment, there is no longer a notion of ‘business as usual’,” she says. She advises attorneys just beginning their careers to “never assume you know what direction your career may go.  Stay open to opportunities that put you on a path you didn’t know existed, and never stop learning new things.”