Ron Whitworth

Legacy & significance

Whitworth arrived at privacy from communications law, FCC staff, telecom practice, online business counsel, before building a financial-sector privacy career that now spans one of the largest U.S. bank mergers. At Truist he oversees global privacy, technology compliance, and AI compliance across the full institution and its affiliates, making him an early practitioner of the combined privacy-AI governance function that regulators are now formalizing.

Major achievements & key works

• Chief Privacy Officer, Truist. Manages the Enterprise Privacy and Technology Office with responsibility for global privacy, technology compliance, and AI compliance across Truist Financial and all subsidiaries.
• DHS Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, three terms. Appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security to advise on PII, data integrity, privacy, and cybersecurity policy affecting federal programs.
• Chief Privacy Officer and Associate General Counsel, EverBank. Built the privacy and data security function at a federally chartered bank before its acquisition.
• Privacy and telecom practice, Sullivan and Worcester LLP. Counseled clients on U.S. and international privacy and data security, telecommunications, and online business matters.

Pivotal turning points

Year	Event	Impact
2005-2006	Special Assistant to FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein	Enters communications law and federal regulatory practice
2006-2009	Attorney at Fletcher, Heald and Hildreth	Builds telecommunications and communications law expertise
2009-2011	Attorney at Sullivan and Worcester LLP	Adds privacy, data security, and online business practice
2011-2016	Senior Privacy Counsel then CPO at EverBank	Builds financial-sector privacy function
2016-present	Chief Privacy Officer at SunTrust, then Truist post-merger	Leads enterprise privacy and AI compliance at top-ten U.S. bank
2018-2024	Three terms on DHS DPIAC	Advises federal government on privacy and data integrity policy

Sources & further reading

Primary sources

• Ron Whitworth, LinkedIn profile

Recommended secondary sources