Sallie Mae Taps Bank of America Exec as CTO to Drive Digital Transformation
Event summary
- Sallie Mae appointed Steve Turner as Chief Technology and Enablement Officer on February 2, 2026.
- Turner previously served as Managing Director and Head of Data, Analytics, Insights, and Marketing Technology at Bank of America.
- He brings over 25 years of technology leadership experience, including roles at Walgreens as CIO and Senior Vice President of Digital Operations.
- Turner will oversee technology architecture, IT innovation, data management, and physical security at Sallie Mae.
The big picture
Sallie Mae's appointment of Steve Turner underscores its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences in the private student lending sector. Turner's background in large-scale digital transformation at Bank of America and Walgreens positions him to strengthen Sallie Mae's technology foundation and drive innovation. This move comes as the education financing industry increasingly relies on data-driven solutions to improve accessibility and efficiency.
What we're watching
- Digital Transformation
- How Turner's experience at Bank of America and Walgreens will accelerate Sallie Mae's digital initiatives.
- Customer Experience
- Whether Turner can deliver faster, simpler, and more reliable experiences for students and families.
- Innovation Pace
- The pace at which Sallie Mae can integrate advanced data and technology solutions under Turner's leadership.