SunTrust executive switches coasts

One of the more community-connected chief executives in the Sarasota-Bradenton region, Margaret Callihan, has relocated to Florida's east coast.

Callihan had been president and CEO of SunTrust Bank's Southwest Florida region, which stretches from Manatee to Collier counties, since 2005. Her new post, a promotion, takes her to SunTrust's Miami-Palm Beach region, where she was named South Florida division president.

“I'm really looking forward to it,” Callihan tells Coffee Talk. “It's a much bigger metropolitan environment with a lot of good opportunities.”

Callihan, who will celebrate 35 years with SunTrust in May, says she will focus on commercial and business banking clients. The territory goes from Miami north to Treasure Coast counties, an area with a population of about 7 million people.

But while Callihan moves up in SunTrust, she will leave some of her heart on the Gulf Coast. Organizations and boards she worked with include the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County and USF Sarasota-Manatee. She recently received the West Coast Florida Civic Achievement Award from the American Jewish Committee.

“There are great things going on in (the west) side of the state,” says Callihan. “The size of the community is big enough to be invigorating, but small enough to really get to know people.”

Callihan started her new position Jan. 7. She will commute between the east coast and her Longboat Key home on weekends at least until the summer; Callihan's husband, Matt Callihan, is an instructor at the Sarasota Military Academy.