Company: CFG-PE
Filing Date: 2025-03-10
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000759944-25-000044
Chunk: 27

Company: CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP INC/RI
Filing Date: 2025-03-10
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 27
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 key aspects of our Board operations and oversight, which collectively provide a strong governance framework that supports the Board in discharging its duties.

#### Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines which outline the Board’s expectations as to how the Board, its various committees, individual directors and management should perform their functions. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are reviewed annually and address:

• The Board’s roles and responsibilities concerning corporate strategy, risk management, succession planning, annual evaluation and director compensation;

• Board structure and composition including size, independence, leadership and committee structure and responsibilities;

#### •

#### Qualifications and selection of directors;
• Board membership requirements concerning participation and preparation for Board meetings, stock ownership, participation on other boards, conflicts of interest, orientation and education, term limits, tenure and mandatory retirement age for directors; and

• Board operations including Board agendas, executive sessions of independent directors, and access to management and independent advisors.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the corporate governance section of our website at

https://investor.citizensbank.com/about-us/investor-relations/corporate-governance.aspx .

#### Board Leadership
The Board believes that the Company and its shareholders are best served by allowing the Board to exercise its judgment regarding the most appropriate Board leadership structure at a given time. The Board reviews its leadership structure periodically and in doing so considers the composition of the Board, the needs of the Company and its shareholders, shareholder feedback, peer company practices, and other factors, retaining the flexibility and discretion to allocate the responsibilities of the offices of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in any manner that serves the best interests of the Company. This includes considering whether the same individual should serve as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or whether the roles should be separated.

At this time, the Board believes it is in the best interests of its stakeholders that the role Chairman and Chief Executive Officer be combined, and that a Lead Independent Director be appointed. The Board believes combining the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer benefits all of our stakeholders by providing the Company with a single point of leadership, facilitating efficient and effective governance, and ensuring the Board is kept apprised in a timely manner of current risks and issues that may affect the Company. Mr. Van Saun’s in-depth knowledge of the Company, industry expertise and proven business acumen makes him highly qualified to serve as our Chairman, lead our Board discussions and ensure our strategic objectives drive the way we execute our business.

To maintain independent oversight of the Company and management where the Chairman also serves as Chief