Wells Fargo promoted John Ward to regional vice president of its expanded Commercial Banking team covering the Piedmont Triad and the Triangle regions of North Carolina. Anchored in Raleigh, NC the group serves the financial needs of middle market companies with annual revenues of $20 million and above from the Piedmont Triad region to the coast of North Carolina.

A 28-year financial services industry veteran, Ward has served since 2009 as regional vice president for the Triangle / Eastern North Carolina Regional Commercial Banking Office. In his expanded role, he will oversee Commercial Banking operations throughout the Triangle and Piedmont Triad areas where the company has four regional and satellite offices.

Ward began his finance career in 1986 as part of Branch Banking and Trust’s commercial banking training program in Wilmington, NC. A native of Raleigh, he joined Wells Fargo predecessor First Union National Bank in 1988 as a Commercial Banking relationship manager. Throughout his commercial banking career, Ward has held senior banking roles in Commercial Banking throughout the region.

“John is a seasoned financial professional with deep roots throughout North Carolina and a strong background in serving middle market companies in the region,” said Suzanne Morrison, head of Wells Fargo Commercial Banking’s Carolinas Division. “His expanded leadership for the region will be invaluable in helping middle-market companies succeed financially.”

Pete Callahan continues as regional vice president of the Piedmont Triad RCBO in Greensboro and reports to Ward. Chapel Hill and Winston-Salem satellite offices serve the Triangle region — including Durham – and Piedmont Triad region, respectively. Ward intends to expand his team in Eastern North Carolina by opening an office in Wilmington in 2016.