DALLAS, July 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Monica L. Martinez has been named Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Comerica Bank, responsible for community development and corporate contributions in Michigan. Martinez, a Michigan native, returns to her home state after five years with Comerica in Texas. In addition to her new responsibilities, Martinez will continue to serve as Comerica's National Director of Hispanic Business Development. Martinez will report to Wendy Bridges, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Executive Administration.

"Monica has distinguished herself in many ways over the course of her 10-year career with Comerica," said Ralph W. Babb, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank. "Under her leadership, Comerica has been named to LATINO Magazine's 'LATINO 100' list and Latina Style Magazine recognized Comerica as one of the top companies for Latinas to work for in the marketplace."

As part of her new responsibilities, Martinez will develop and maintain relationships with key community stakeholders in Detroit and Michigan. She also will oversee Comerica's Michigan Market corporate contributions program. Janice Tessier, who currently serves as the Michigan Contributions Manager, will report to Martinez. And, as National Hispanic Business Director, Martinez will continue to serve as the liaison for the bank within the Hispanic community, directing Comerica's Hispanic business and diversity community outreach in the bank's primary markets.

"I look forward to the opportunity to re-connect with community organizations and their leaderships in Detroit and throughout the state, where I have developed so many lasting friendships," said Martinez. "Our greatest pride as a bank comes from investing in the communities we serve. Comerica has an unwavering commitment to the Detroit and Michigan community and I am pleased to help further that commitment through a variety of efforts."

"We are pleased Monica has returned to Michigan, where she has such deep roots," said Michael T. Ritchie, president, Comerica Bank - Michigan Market. "Working together, we will continue forging lasting partnerships in the community we have served for more than 166 years."

Martinez joined Comerica in 2006 in support of the bank's ongoing commitment to building strong relationships with Hispanic business owners, entrepreneurs and communities. Previously, she worked at Ford Motor Company, where she served as Grassroots and Political Communications Manager, holding a variety of positions on the corporate staff during her 10-year tenure at the automaker.

Martinez holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University, where she majored in International Business with a focus in Marketing. For her graduate work, she studied Interdisciplinary Technology with a concentration in Business Management at Eastern Michigan University.

She has also earned certificates in Non-Profit Management from Duke University and Corporate Community Relations Management from Boston College. Martinez is also a graduate of the SMU Management program and is certified in Diversity Management from Cornell University.

Martinez actively serves on the board of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber, Chair of the Michigan Girl Scouts Hispanic Advisory Committee and SER Jobs for Progress National in Irving, Texas.  Martinez has received a number of honors for her work.  Most recently, she was honored with the Inaugural Corporate Visionary Award at the DDLM Women's conference at Michigan State University and named as one of the Top 10 Latina Women in Corporate America by Latino Leaders Magazine. In addition, she has been named as a Latina of Influence by HispanicLifestyle.com, acknowledged among one of the "One Tough Cookie" honorees recognizing female leaders by the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan and one of the most influential Hispanics in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine.

Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $71 billion at June 30, 2016.

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SOURCE Comerica Bank