Jacksonville Daily Record news partner WJXT TV-4 reported Monday that two months after TIAA Bank announced the retirement of CEO Blake Wilson, the Jacksonville-based bank has fired him over unspecified policy violations.
TIAA announced in September that Wilson would remain with the bank in an advisory capacity through the end of the year before retiring.
WJXT investigative reporter Kelly Wiley, a member of the News4Jax I-Team, reported that employees learned of Wilson’s dismissal Monday through an email from Wilson’s successor, CEO Steve Fischer.
WJXT, whose news station is known as News4Jax, obtained a copy of the email and shared it with the Daily Record. A TIAA Bank spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the internal memo to News4Jax but declined to issue a comment or discuss the nature of the allegations.
“I am writing to inform you that Blake Wilson is no longer employed by TIAA Bank," Fischer’s email said in part.
“Serious matters were brought to our attention following the announcement of his retirement, and after a full investigation, it has been determined that he failed to adhere to company standards of conduct, and violated personnel and other policies.”
Fischer said the decision to part ways with Wilson was backed by management as well as TIAA Bank’s board of directors and that Wilson will not receive severance pay or other deferred compensation.
“Our culture comes down to every one of us and the values we bring to work every day,” Fischer wrote.
“Our work requires our customers’ trust. Earning that trust means acting with integrity, and that means never being afraid to speak up when you see something that isn’t right.”
TIAA spokesperson Chad Peterson told the Jacksonville Daily Record that the bank is “not providing comment or a copy of the internal email.”
TIAA announced Sept. 16 that Wilson was retiring as chairman and CEO of its Jacksonville-based subsidiary, TIAA Bank, and would be succeeded as chief executive officer by Fischer, who was president and chief operating officer.
Wilson had been CEO since TIAA acquired Jacksonville-based EverBank in June 2017 and merged it with its bank subsidiary.
EverBank CEO Rob Clements retired when the merger was completed and was succeeded by Wilson, who was then president.
Wilson joined EverBank in 2002 as chief financial officer. Fischer joined EverBank in 2011, succeeding Wilson as chief financial officer.
TIAA said in September that Wilson decided the time was right to retire after leading the integration of the merged bank.