Peter Knitzer ‘84
Peter Knitzer ‘84 is a retired c-suite executive with over 35 years of experience in financial services and consumer goods. Most recently, he was the CEO of Regional Management (NYSE: RM), a consumer finance company. Peter refocused the company on its core business, shedding low margin, high risk products. This, plus new marketing analytics, strong risk and expense management, and an upgrade on the operations team, resulted in double-digit revenue and loan annual growth, and a 23% compound annual growth rate in net income during his tenure as CEO.
Prior to joining Regional, Peter held several senior positions at Citigroup during his 14 years at the company including Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Citibank North America where he took the bank that was earning no money and grew net income to $400 million in less than 24 months; and Executive Vice President, Business Head of Citi Cards managing portfolios from $10 to over $80 billion in receivables, delivering a 22% compound annual growth rate in net income for 5 years reaching earnings of $2.5 billion annually. As part of Citi’s leadership team, Peter was on the company’s Management Committee, Global Consumer Planning Group, and was the Head of Citi’s Global MBA Executive Development Program.
His experience includes Business Head of Payments at CIBC in Toronto, Canada and President of E*TRADE Bank. Early in his career, Peter worked in packaged goods at Estee Lauder, Revlon, and Nabisco in sales and product management.
Currently, Peter volunteers at the West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) food pantry; volunteers as a facilitator at PFLAG NYC (Parents, Family & Friends of the LGBTQ community); is a Mentor, Brown University entrepreneurial program for graduates. He is also an avid golfer, skier, scuba diver, and loves to travel.
Board experience: Board Member, Regional Management (NYSE: RM); Board Member, E*TRADE Bank (NASDAQ: ETFC); Board Chair, Citibank Utah; Board Chair, Habitat for Humanity, NYC; Advisory Board, Columbia University Lang Center for Entrepreneurship.