Kristy Berner joins Webster Financial as EVP/general counsel

Stamford-based Webster Financial Corp. (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A. and its HSA Bank division, has appointed Kristy Berner as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.

In her new role, she will lead all of Webster’s corporate legal services. She was previously executive vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary at M&T Bank Corp., and earlier in her career she was the general counsel and corporate secretary at both People’s United Bank and First Niagara Bank, as well as the deputy general counsel at KeyBank.

Berner has also served as a member of the Quinnipiac University Center for Women in Business Advisory Board and was a prior chairwoman of the American Bankers Association General Counsel Group.

“Kristy is an experienced professional in financial services,” said John Ciulla, president and CEO of Webster Financial Corp. and CEO of Webster Bank. “As a member of the executive management team, we look forward to her leadership and guidance as part of our growth strategy.”