Leann G. Britton To Be Senior Deputy Comptroller for Supervision Operations

Comptroller of the Currency Eugene A. Ludwig today announced that Leann G. Britton has been named Senior Deputy Comptroller for Supervision Operations, effective March 11. Ms. Britton replaces the current Senior Deputy Comptroller, Stephen R. Steinbrink, who is retiring after 29 years with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Bank Supervision Operations is responsible for overseeing direct supervision of all national banks, through the OCC's six district offices, the Multinational Banking Department, Special Supervision, and Compliance Management.

"Leann Britton has the vision and leadership we need to carry OCC's supervision operations into the 21st century," Mr. Ludwig said. "She brings to this position a unique combination of experience and expertise in supervision and organizational operations. As both an examiner and a manager, she has extensive and recent experience in banking issues and direct bank supervision. In addition, because she chaired the steering committee that is overseeing the implementation of OCC's organization review process, she has first-hand experience in reshaping the organization in response to changes in banking and technology. Her knowledge and expertise about banking, supervision, and OCC's organizational operations make her uniquely qualified to take on the challenges of her new position.

In making the announcement, the Comptroller praised Mr. Steinbrink's contributions during his career at the OCC. "For the past six years, Steve has served in critical senior management positions in this organization, including acting as Comptroller for more than a year immediately before I was appointed," Mr. Ludwig said. "In all his positions, he has had to make tough decisions in often difficult circumstances. The quality of those decisions earned him enormous respect from bankers and OCC employees, as well as his other colleagues in the regulatory community.

"Steve has been a tremendous asset not only to the OCC but also to the entire national banking system, " the Comptroller added. "We will all miss having the benefit of his experience, common sense, and good humor."

Leann G. Britton joined the OCC in 1975 and became a national bank examiner in 1980. She became regional director for corporate activities in Minneapolis (1981-1983); manager of corporate activities in the OCC's Central District (1983-1985); and director for analysis in the Central District (1985-1989). In 1989, she became director of the OCC's Minneapolis Field Office, a position she held while she served as coordinator of the OCC's Organizational Review Team, an initiative to review the OCC's organizational structure and systems to promote more consistent and responsive bank supervision. She also served as chair of the steering committee overseeing implementation of the review team's recommendations. Ms. Britton was named deputy comptroller for the Central District in 1995.

Stephen R. Steinbrink joined the OCC in 1967 in Kansas City, MO, and was commissioned a national bank examiner in 1970. In 1977, he became Deputy Regional Administrator for the Southwest Region, where in 1983 he was appointed Director for Bank Supervision. He was named Deputy Comptroller for Multinational Banking in March 1990 and in July 1991 became Senior Deputy Comptroller for Bank Supervision Operations. From March 1992 to April 1993, Mr. Steinbrink served as Acting Comptroller of the Currency.