SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) today announced that Charles H. Silverman has been named head of Global Financial Institutions (GFI). Silverman will maintain offices in Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Silverman succeeds Michael Heavener, who retired Sept. 1 after a 42-year career with Wells Fargo and the former Wachovia. Most recently, Silverman served as executive vice president and area head for GFI Product Distribution and Network Services, a post he held since Wells Fargo acquired Wachovia in 2008. He began his financial services career in 1988 with Philadelphia National Bank, where he led global payments sales for GFI, Asian Branch sales and marketing based in Hong Kong; he also served as area head of South and Southeast Asia.

“Chuck’s combination of leadership and experience in trade finance and payments is a tremendous asset to our team and our customers,” said Dave Zuercher, group head of Wells Fargo International & Insurance Services. “He’ll continue to find new ways for us to connect Wells Fargo’s customers globally and be the premier provider of financial services to financial institutions around the world.”

“I’m excited to lead this business and the dedicated team members who support our financial institutions customers,” said Silverman, who is past chair of the Washington, D.C.-based Bankers Association for Finance & Trade (BAFT). “Our vision and purpose is clear: We will continue to build the brand and strength of Wells Fargo and help our customers succeed financially.”

As part of Wells Fargo’s International Group, GFI provides banking services to financial institutions, multilateral organizations and international agencies worldwide. GFI’s offerings include payments, collections, trade services and outsourcing, deposits, credit, foreign exchange, and risk management.

Wells Fargo International Group serves small businesses, corporations, financial institutions, multilateral organizations and individuals with a wide range of international solutions from more than 30 overseas locations, including branches in Hong Kong, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and the Cayman Islands. Wells Fargo is currently ranked No. 1 in overall institutional customer satisfaction and No. 2 in the world in worldwide market share for primary global correspondent banking relationships by FImetrix.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 10,000 banking stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With more than 278,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked #19 on Fortune’s 2009 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.