Devony Coley

About Devony Coley

Partnering with Citizens—a reputable, caring, and stable organization—has been an inspiring chapter in my career; and I’m just getting started! Since joining Citizens, as Vice President, Executive Recruiting & Talent Advisor, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a dynamic team, driving strategic talent acquisition initiatives and advising on executive hiring. My role allows me to blend my passion for people with a deep understanding of business needs, helping shape the future of leadership at Citizens.With a wealth of experience in talent acquisition and HR, my career has been defined by strategic thinking, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to helping others thrive. Prior to Citizens, I spent nearly nine years at Liberty Mutual, first as an Executive Recruiter and later as a TA Recruiting People Leader, where I led a high-performing team of Recruiters and Senior Technical Recruiters. My journey also includes impactful roles in customer service, sales, management, and leadership across entrepreneurial start-ups, a family business, and Fortune 100 companies.My diverse background spans professional services and the insurance industry, both in agency and corporate settings. I’m known for delivering strong results in fast-paced environments, supporting multiple lines of business with consultative guidance, insightful analysis, and a relationship-first approach. My strengths include interpersonal communication, strategic planning, and problem-solving, all underpinned by a high degree of business acumen.Beyond my professional responsibilities, I’m deeply committed to career development. I volunteer my time coaching individuals—from early career professionals to seasoned C-suite executives—on job search strategies, resume writing, social media branding, and interviewing skills. I also created and lead “LinkedIn 101” training sessions for executives and employees, empowering them to leverage social media to attract top talent.I’m spirited, passionate, resilient, and guided by my North Star: Helping People.Let’s connect and explore opportunities together!

Experience

1. VP, Executive Recruiting & Talent Advisor

   Citizens

   Mar 2025 — Present

   Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, offering a broad range of services from large corporations to individual customers. Behind every innovation and solution is a dedicated team of colleagues working together.Celebrating a decade of strong and steady growth, Citizens\' IPO remains the largest by a commercial bank in U.S. history. With assets under management (AUM) of approximately $220 billion (NYSE: CFG), we are well-positioned for the future.As a consultant and Executive Recruiter & Talent Advisor, I\'m part of the Corporate Executive Search Team, focusing on C-level and Director openings across all bank divisions. I collaborate with a seasoned team to lead senior leader search assignments essential for executing Citizens\' ongoing strategy.With over 15 years of experience in search, agency, and corporate roles, I specialize in executive recruiting and white glove service. My expertise includes all aspects of recruiting, stakeholder management, strategy, assessment, candidate development, senior stakeholder influence, executive compensation partnership, negotiation, and closing deals. I\'m known for developing successful partnerships with executives and serving as a strategic business partner and talent advisor.As a client-centric talent advisor, I earn stakeholder trust through consultative advice, strong knowledge of senior leadership roles, transparent communication, data analytics, project management, and leveraging AI and historical data to deliver exceptional client and candidate experiences.What excites me about Citizens? The mission to help customers, colleagues, and communities reach their potential, and the vision to be a top-performing bank distinguished by its customer-centric culture, continuous improvement mindset, and excellent capabilities.

Education

• Merrimack College

  Bachelor of Science, Psychology/Sociology

• Bentley University

  HR Management Certificate , HR

Skills

• HR Consulting
• Word
• Coaching
• Interviews
• Leadership Development
• Leadership
• Contract Recruitment
• Employee Benefits
• Technical Recruiting
• Client Relationship Building
• Personnel Management
• Internet Recruiting
• Creative Problem Solving
• Crm
• Direct Recruiting
• Organizational Development
• Team Building
• Management
• Public Relations
• Contract Negotiation
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Screening
• Hiring
• Deferred Compensation
• Hris
• Salesforce.com
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Interviewing
• Social Networking
• Onboarding
• Talent Acquisition
• Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Recruiting
• Team Leadership
• Contract Negotiations
• Customer Relations
• Employee Relations
• Staffing Services