SunTrust named Anil Cheriyan chief information officer to succeed Tim Sullivan, who is retiring after serving in the position since 2003.

Cheriyan will join the Atlanta-based bank on April 2.

“Anil Cheriyan brings outstanding technology experience and expertise leading transformational systems initiatives,” said Chief Executive William Rogers. “Technology’s role in the banking business cannot be overstated.”

Cheriyan joins SunTrust from IBM Global Business Services, where he served as a senior partner serving financial services industry clients and led a variety of business systems transformation, technology and process re-engineering initiatives. 

Prior to joining IBM in 2002, he was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting and served in leadership roles on a variety of systems, customer information, data warehousing and e-business engagements.

SunTrust reported 2011 full-year earnings of $728 million, up from $189 million in 2010 due to higher net interest income, lower provision for credit losses and the repayment of TARP.

— Justin T. Hilley