Toronto-based Royal Bank of Canada, the fifth-largest financial institution in North America, has expanded the responsibilities of legal chief Maria Douvas following the departure of its chief administrative and strategy officer.

Douvas, a former Paul Hastings partner and former assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, has rapidly ascended RBC’s leadership rungs since joining the bank in 2016 as managing director and head of U.S. and international litigation. She became chief legal officer in 2021 and now is becoming chief legal and administrative officer, with responsibilities in both administration and strategy.