Automotive Finance Contacts

Wayne P. Sokolosky
Senior Vice President, Wholesale (Floor Plan) Relationship Manager
Phone: 860-513-2869
Fax: 800-266-4691

Wayne is responsible for a commercial auto dealer portfolio of more than $200MM. He has been with the Automotive Finance Group since 1977, and has been a Relationship Manager in Southern New England since 1997.

Prior to joining Sovereign, Wayne held positions at Fleet Financial, Shawmut Bank, Connecticut National, and First Bank of New Haven. He has attended numerous industry related training classes, including the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the ABA Credit Card School, and has been most active in coaching youth basketball and baseball in his hometown of Branford, CT.

Kenney D. Johnson
Vice President, Wholesale (Floor Plan) Relationship Manager
Phone: 860-513-2870
Fax: 800-266-4691

Kenny is a Relationship Manager responsible for a commercial auto dealer portfolio of  more than $100MM in the Southern New England Region, and has been with the Sovereign Bank Auto Finance Group since February 1993.

Prior to joining Sovereign Bank, Kenney worked as a Relationship Manager in Middle Market Commercial Lending and managed merchant MasterCard^® sales for Connecticut National Bank. Kenney is an advisory board member of the Executive MBA School of Business at the University of New Haven, and has served on the Board since 2002. He is also active in the West Haven Knights of Columbus, as well as a committee member of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 463 of Northford.

Joesph E. Nelson
Vice President, Relationship Manager
Phone: 860-513-2871
Fax: 800-266-4691

Joe is a Relationship Manager responsible for a commercial auto dealer portfolio of nearly $300MM. Joe has been a relationship manager with Sovereign Bank since September of 1997.

Prior to joining Sovereign Bank, Joe successfully completed Fleet Bank's Commercial Credit training program in Boston, and worked for 7 years in various capacities in the Automotive Finance Groups of Fleet Bank, Shawmut Bank, and Connecticut National Bank.

Joe is actively involved with Little League Baseball and Youth Soccer in Connecticut. He also serves on the board and is the treasurer of the First Congregational Church of Bristol, CT. Joe is a 1990 graduate of Syracuse University, earning a dual degree in Economics and Political Science through the Maxwell School of Citizenship.

Anthony G. Thomas
Vice President, Indirect Retail Relationship Manager
Phone 860-513-2812
Fax 800-266-4691

Anthony services and cross sells floor plan financing and other bank services to dealers in his territory.

He has been with Sovereign Bank since January 1980 through numerous mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Sovereign, Anthony held positions at Fleet Bank, Shawmut Bank, and Hartford National Bank. Anthony is a chairperson on Sovereign Bank's holiday committee and participates in local women's and food shelter drives. Anthony is past president and currently team leader of the Sovereign Bank golf league.

Robert A. Vagnini
Vice President, Indirect Retail Relationship Manager
Phone: 860-513-2811
Fax: 800-266-4691

Robert Vagnini has been with Sovereign Bank (and predecessor banks) since 1969 with the last 17 years in the Automotive Finance Group. During his 37-year banking career, Robert has held positions at Fleet Financial, Shawmut Bank, and Connecticut National.

Robert was previously involved with Junior Achievement in Western Connecticut, and was past President of the Ansonia Lions Club. He is a graduate of Sacred Heart University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Gladys Rivera
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 860-513-2814
Fax: 800-266-4691

Deborah Berry
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 860-513-2807
Fax: 800-266-4691

George Hall
Wholesale Financial Analyst
Phone: 860-513-2888
Fax: 800-266-4691

Diane Coleman
Wholesale Financial Analyst
Phone: 860-513-2872
Fax: 800-266-4691