I'm currently Vice President of Media Relations, Communications & Government Relations for CIT Group, a bank holding company with more than $35 billion in financing and leasing assets. CIT provides financing and leasing capital and advisory services to its clients and their customers across more than 30 industries. CIT also operates CIT Bank, its primary bank subsidiary, and its online bank BankOnCIT.com. My responsibilities include creating and implementing strategic public relations and communications plans that increase the global awareness of CIT among target audiences and that enhance the public reputations of senior management. Prior to joining CIT I spent 12 years at AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, most recently as the Director of External Affairs. In this role I created and implemented public relations strategies for senior management and AXA Advisors – the company’s retail sales network consisting of approximately 60 branches and 6000 financial professionals. Throughout my career I've worked with top tier media organizations, key journalists and freelance writers who specialize in industry related stories. Internally, I know the value of building strong relationships across our organization to help facilitate coordination and alignment of all our communications. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from the University of Rhode Island and completed the advanced program for English Language Studies at Richmond College in London, England.

Vice President, Media Relations, Communications & Government Relations @ I currently serve as Vice President of Media Relations of CIT Group Inc. In this role I develop and execute communications programs and strategies to advance CIT’s brand image, market positioning and corporate reputations. I write and edit press materials, develop and implement content PR as well as PR plans, and assist in the development of communications strategies and related messaging to create media opportunities which showcase the company’s leadership as well as its performance, businesses and capabilities. From May 2011 to Present (4 years 6 months) Director, External Affairs @ • Create and implement public relations strategies for senior management and AXA Advisors – the company’s retail sales network consisting of approximately 60 branches and 6,000 financial professionals; insure that all PR communications adhere to the corporate PR policy and meet compliance regulations; and mitigate risks inherent when working with the media and other third parties. • Write and edit press materials, e.g., articles, briefing notes, press releases, and media statements; Manage press conferences, conduct spokesperson training, develop and implement PR plans, assist in development of communications strategies and related messaging to create media opportunities which showcase the company’s performance, businesses, capabilities and leadership. • Serve as External Communications Advisor to Product, Legal, IT, Compliance and Government Relations departments. Providing PR counsel to field management on a broad spectrum of unanticipated issues that arise in the normal course of business and can impact how the AXA brand is perceived by the media, opinion leaders and the marketplace and, consequently, our clients and prospects. • Establish and develop relationships with targeted news media including corporate financial press, as well as vertical trade publications covering education, media, publishing, technology, personal finance, diversity and financial services. • Develop and provide the news media with a steady flow of information that supports and fosters understanding of the company’s goals, strategies and successes. • Prepare reports and media activity summaries of departmental activities for distribution to senior management. • Develop activities to support major AXA Equitable and AXA Group marketing and public relations initiatives through the development of various communications materials designed to enhance external awareness. From June 2003 to May 2011 (8 years) Manager, Internet Communications @ • Managed all content on AXA Equitable’s Web site, in addition to creating and managing Press Rooms for AXA Equitable and AXA Advisors, LLC • Researched and wrote columns and articles for company communications, including Enterprise, AXA Advisors News, Update, AXA’s Leaders, press releases, and letters and memos as required • Participated on a task force assigned to review and make recommendations on the company’s Intranet Web site From June 2001 to June 2003 (2 years 1 month) Sr. Communications Specialist @ • Conceived, researched, wrote, edited and proofread all material for AXA Equitable’s company-wide employee newsletter Enterprise, and followed to press, in a strict deadline environment • Wrote and distributed daily publication Of Interest – daily news clippings relates to the company and the financial services industry for senior management. • Wrote and edited executive biographies From February 1999 to June 2001 (2 years 5 months) Speechwriter/Editor @ • Served as a dedicated speechwriter for executive officers - prepared speeches for company council meetings and outside speaking engagements; including research, organization, and writing of verbatim text, bullet points and the creation of slides • Wrote columns and articles for company communications; including the Annual Report, New York Life News, press releases and letters and memos as required • Supervised photographers and conducted interviews with agents and clients throughout the country for the Annual Report and New York Life News From February 1997 to February 1999 (2 years 1 month) Fulfillment Coordinator and Writer for VentureFinance @ • Researched and reported expansion plans for publication in VentureFinance - a comprehensive newsletter on high-technology investing that provides authoritative details on venture capital activity and identifies the important new startups before they become widely known. • Proofread articles and validated facts and graphical information for publication in VentureFinance, ComputerLetter, and Fortune magazine’s Technology Buyer’s Guide • Assisted in writing and editing speaker biographies and company profiles for conference program books, maintained newsletter archives, index database and generated direct mail promotional letters From May 1995 to February 1997 (1 year 10 months)

Bachelor's degree, Communications @ Richmond, The American International University in London From 1993 to 1994 University of Rhode Island From 1989 to 1994 Matt Klein is skilled in: Corporate Communications, Media Relations, Writing, Editing, Newsletters, Press Releases, Internal Communications, Integrated Marketing, Marketing Communications, Strategic Communications, Investor Relations, Public Relations, Social Media, Copywriting, Marketing Strategy, Strategic Planning, Publicity, Content Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Digital Media, Market Research, Leadership, Strategy, Copy Editing, Digital Strategy, Corporate Branding, Digital Marketing, Research, New Media, Publishing, Email Marketing, Crisis Communications, Financial Services, Online Marketing, Storytelling, Start-ups, Management, Marketing, Finance