People on the Move: Sept. 1

People on the Move is a rundown of recent hirings, promotions, appointments and other notable movements by professionals in the state. If you’re interested in submitting an entry, please contact news@delawarebusinesstimes.com.

Sallie Mae names Pete Graham its next chief financial officer. He will be responsible for finance, accounting, and treasury activities, as well as equity and fixed income investor relations. He will also serve as the lead financial spokesperson for the company.

Pete Graham, next Sallie Mae Chief Financial Officer. (Photo: Business Wire)
Pete Graham | PHOTO COURTESY OF SALLIE MAE

He succeeds Steve McGarry, who entered into a retention agreement with the company earlier this year. McGarry will serve as the chief financial officer until Oct. 27, and will then remain with the company as an executive vice president consistent with the terms of his retention agreement.

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“Like so many families that Sallie Mae serves, access to higher education was pivotal to my unique journey and I feel a particularly deep connection to the company’s mission,” Graham said in a statement. “I am thrilled to be joining the team to power confidence in students and families while driving meaningful growth, continued efficiency, and long-term value for shareholders.”

Graham brings more than 30 years of extensive experience in financial services and public accounting, most recently serving as chief financial officer for PRA Group. He was at General Electric for more than a decade where he held various executive finance roles of increasing responsibility including chief financial officer for GE Commercial Distribution Finance and GE Capital Markets. Prior to his time at GE, Graham led audit and advisory teams at KPMG LLP serving financial services clients in insurance, banking, and asset management.

“Pete is an experienced public company chief financial officer who brings a rich and diversified background to Sallie Mae,” Jon Witter, CEO of Sallie Mae, said. “He is a strategic leader committed to operational efficiency and capital allocation discipline and will be integral to our growth and long-term value creation. I’m pleased to welcome him to our leadership team.”

Graham earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut.


Bayhealth welcomes John Mitchell, MD, as the new director of trauma surgery for Bayhealth Kent Campus in Dover. Dr. Mitchell is a highly experienced and board-certified critical care and general surgeon who subspecializes in trauma and critical care. He also joins the Bayhealth General Surgery, Dover practice, a part of Bayhealth Medical Group, with fellow surgeons Assar Rather, MD; Theodoros Katsichtis, MD; Bradford Mitchell, MD; Krishnaraj Mahendraraj, MD; and Edward Alexander, MD.

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Dr. John Mitchell | PHOTO COURTESY OF BAYHEALTH

“We’re extremely pleased to have Dr. John Mitchell as our new director of trauma surgery,” Bayhealth Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Gary Siegelman, MD, MSc, said. “He brings remarkable expertise and dedication to this role, ensuring that our community members who are critically injured or require emergency surgery receive the best possible care when they need it most. As we, unfortunately, see traffic collisions and other serious forms of traumatic injury occurring throughout Kent and Sussex counties, it’s important to know that Bayhealth has a strong trauma program at our Kent and Sussex Campuses. Dr. Mitchell’s experienced leadership will enable the growth of our Kent Campus program and have significant influence across our health system.”

Most recently, Dr. Mitchell served as the director of trauma and acute care surgery at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He also was a clinical assistant professor for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Over his more than 20-year medical career in critical care, trauma and numerous surgical specialties, he’s held numerous director and attending surgeon positions at health systems in Connecticut, New York, and back in his home country of Guyana.

Dr. Mitchell earned his medical degree from State University of New York at Brooklyn and completed his residency at Brooklyn Hospital Center. He then completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York City. He holds board certifications in general surgery and surgical critical care from the American Board of Surgery.


Carla Stone | PHOTO COURTESY OF EXIM BANK

World Trade Center Delaware President Carla Stone has been named to the Advisory Council on Small Business of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for the 2023-24 term.

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“I am honored and privileged to serve as a voice of small business to the federal government on such important issues,” Stone said. “Representing American entrepreneurs and exporters is fundamental to World Trade Center Delaware’s work and mission. I appreciate the trust and confidence that the Administration has in our achievements working for a stronger international trade sector.”

The 18-member subcommittee advises EXIM on its programs and initiatives as it works to advance key global trade priorities – specifically, recommendations to help small business exporters find new markets, achieve more sales, and lower risk.

It will be co-chaired by Nancy Flake Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and Robin van Puyenbroeck, executive director of business development at the World Trade Centers® Association.

“I look forward to working with this year’s diverse group of council appointees,” EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis said. “The recommendations and insights we receive from our Advisory Councils are an integral part to the successful execution of the EXIM mission. As we endeavor to advance the competitiveness of America’s exporters while supporting Biden-Harris Administration priorities, I am eager to see how the work of our councils shape the Bank’s efforts.”


The House Democratic Caucus announced several committee leadership changes:

House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown will chair the House Administration, House Ethics and House Rules Committees. All three panels are comprised of the five leaders of both caucuses, and the majority leader typically leads them. House Majority Whip Kerri Evelyn Harris will serve as vice-chair on all three committees.

As a result, Rep. Minor-Brown will step down as chair of the House Health & Human Development Committee, and Rep. Harris will move up from vice-chair to lead the Health Committee. Rep. Eric Morrison will become the new vice-chair for the group.

Rep. Krista Griffith will become the new chair of the House Judiciary Committee, replacing Rep. Sean Lynn. Rep. Cyndie Romer will serve as the new vice-chair of the committee, taking Rep. Griffith’s place.

Rep. Romer will become the new chair of the House Technology & Telecommunications Committee, replacing Rep. Griffith. Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton will serve as the new vice-chair of the committee, taking Rep. Romer’s place.

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