James M. Wells, III. is an American businessman. He is the current Executive Chairman of the Board of SunTrust Banks Inc..[1][2][3][4]
James M. Wells III joined SunTrust Banks Inc. in 1976.[4] He became its CEO in 2007.[3] As CEO of SunTrust Banks Inc. in 2008, he earned a total compensation of $8,042,275, which included a base salary of $1,077,300, stocks granted of $4,721,150, and options granted of $2,120,000.[5] He was replaced as CEO by William H. Rogers, Jr., on June 1, 2011.
He serves as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Financial Services Roundtable, VISA U.S.A. Inc., the Crestar Financial Corporation, and the Crestar Bank, acquired by SunTrust Banks in 1998.[2][3][6][7]
He is a trustee of the Georgia Research Alliance.[2][8] Since November 2010, he has been the director of Operation HOPE Inc..[2] A Republican, he was involved with Bush-Cheney '04 and McCain-Palin Victory 2008.[3]