DALLAS, Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank today announced that J. Michael Fulton, President, Comerica Bank-California Market, will retire in April 2014, following a 42-year career with the bank. Judith S. Love, Executive Vice President, will serve as the new California Market President effective Dec.1, 2013.  Love will report to Lars C. Anderson, Comerica's Vice Chairman, The Business Bank.

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Fulton's banking career started with Comerica in 1971 in Michigan, when he was accepted into the management training program. He started as a teller in the retail division before advancing to commercial lending and strategic planning positions.

In 1989, Fulton was in charge of mergers and acquisitions for Comerica and oversaw its entry into California with an agreement to acquire San Jose-based Plaza Bank of Commerce. This was the first of six acquisitions in the greater Bay area and Los Angeles markets. Fulton was named California Market President in 1994.

His relocation to California and subsequent responsibilities include overseeing the California Market's focus on small business, middle market, entertainment, specialty deposits, private lending, and retail banking as well as a national focus on high tech.

"When I came to California, I was one of a few employees here and now we have nearly 1,500," said Fulton. "It has been an amazing experience to be part of building something from almost nothing and as reported in Comerica's third quarter 2013 earnings, California is the top market in the company in terms of loans. We've all worked hard to build the business over the last two decades and now we're positioned for tremendous growth in the future. In fact, I believe Comerica in California under Judy's leadership can be even more successful in the next 20 years."

Fulton is a past president of Ballet San Jose and has served on the boards of Montalvo Arts Center, California Bankers Association, All Stars Helping Kids and Symphony Silicon Valley. He is an alumni of the American Leadership Forum and is currently a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose.

Love is Executive Vice President of Middle Market Banking and International Finance at Comerica Bank. Middle Market serves corporations with revenue between $20 million and $500 million. International Finance provides banking services to companies in Mexico and Canada as well as subsidiaries of large foreign-based corporations with offices in North America.

Love has been with the bank for over 30 years, and some of her previous positions include: Senior Vice President, Middle Market Banking California/Michigan; President, Comerica Securities; and prominent roles in Investor Relations, Controller, Treasury, Real Estate, and Purchasing. Love received a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Detroit.

"It is an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to lead Comerica's California market.  Mike has built deep relationships over the years with our California clients, employees and community," said Love.  "I look forward to working with Mike during the transition period to reinforce Comerica's 164-year commitment to help individuals and businesses be successful through relationship banking."   

Love is a former board member of The Professional Business Women of California and a member of The Association for Corporate Growth in San Francisco. She is a Graduate from the Center for Creative Leadership and Leadership Detroit. Love was recognized as one of the Bay Area's Most Influential Women in Business.

Throughout the next several months, Fulton and Love will work closely as responsibilities are transitioned.

About Comerica Bank
Comerica Bank, with 105 banking centers in the key California markets of San Francisco and the East Bay, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, Santa Cruz/Monterey, and the Inland Empire, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA).  Comerica is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned into three major business segments: the Business Bank, the Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships and helping businesses and people be successful. For more information, visit comerica.com, To find Comerica on Facebook, please visit www.facebook.com/ComericaCares. Follow Comerica on Twitter at @ComericaCares and follow Comerica Chief Economist Robert Dye on Twitter at @Comerica_Econ.

SOURCE Comerica Bank