Published: June 15, 2009 01:50 am      

NEW POSITION: Former National City executive will run bank’s western Pennsylvania branches.

First Niagara Financial Group has named National City Corp.’s top Pennsylvania executive to lead its business in the state.

The announcement comes as First Niagara nears completion of its previously announced acquisition of 57 National City branches in Pittsburgh, Warren and Erie in September.

Pittsburgh resident Todd C. Moules becomes regional president for Western Pennsylvania, effective at the closing of the purchase. Moules is currently overseeing the transition the National City branches First Niagara acquired in April.

As regional president, Moules will lead the implementation of the bank holding company’s vision and strategy as it enters the Western Pennsylvania market. He will be responsible for leading new business development, sales, service and community affairs in the region. Community relations will also be a key leadership area for Moules. He will be responsible for building and strengthening relationships with local government leaders, not-for-profit organizations and the business community.

Moules will be based at First Niagara’s new Western Pennsylvania Regional Market Center in the 11 Stanwix Building in Pittsburgh.

Moules was previously the state president of Pennsylvania banking at National City Corp. and had been with National City since 1988. He began his career as a corporate banking trainee in the MBA Associates Program. He rose through the ranks to hold a variety of account management responsibilities. In 1998, he was named senior vice president in Corporate Banking, serving as deputy head of Credit Administration for the Northcoast region.

Moules earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Pennsylvania State University and a law degree from the John Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.

Moules is on the board of directors for United Way of Allegheny County, Family House, Civic Light Opera, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and Point Park University. He is a member of Leadership Pittsburgh Class XXI. Originally from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Todd currently resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, Miriam, and daughter, Elisabeth.