René F. Jones is chairman and chief executive officer of M&T Bank, a diversified, community-focused banking franchise with $200 billion in assets and a network of 1,000+ branches across the eastern U.S.

Before being named Chairman and CEO in December 2017, he served as Chief Financial Officer from 2005 to 2016, responsible for managing the financial actions of the company. In 2005, he was named to M&T’s Management Group, a group of senior executives responsible for the company’s strategic direction.

Born and raised in Ayer, Mass., Jones received a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management Science from Boston College. He began his career in accounting at the Boston-based office of Ernst & Young, and later at a private equity firm, and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Rochester. In 1992, he joined M&T as part of the Executive Associates Program.

Jones participates in several organizations to help advance the industry, including the Bank Policy Institute, where he serves as vice chair, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he serves as a director. He is also active in the community, serving on the boards of ACV Auctions, Boston College, and the Pan-Mass Challenge, as well as on the advisory council of the University at Buffalo.

As one of only a few Black CEOs in the Fortune 500, Jones is passionate about equity of opportunity, both in and outside the company. He serves as a steward of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism and on the capital advisory committee of Aux21, a seed-stage firm investing in the future of global commerce with a focus on companies led by immigrant founders.