Gordon Nixon, CEO of Royal Bank, was the recipient of the 2001 Innovator of the Year Award handed out by American Banker last night in New York. The award was in recognition of the bank’s successful expansion into the United States.

Nixon was among four industry leaders honored at its first annual Banker of the Year Awards. Other 2001 honorees included Kerry Killinger of Washington Mutual, Inc., who received the Banker of the Year Award; Terrence Murray, CEO of FleetBoston Financial Corp., who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Joseph “Jody” Grant, CEO of Texas Capital Bankshares Inc., who was named Community Banker of the Year.

Nixon was named Innovator of the Year in recognition of the company’s successful expansion into the U.S. markets. This includes Royal’s targeted acquisitions of five mid-size U.S. companies, including Centura Banks, Inc. and Dain Rauscher Corp.

American Banker also cited the Royal Bank for being one of the first North American banks to embrace Customer Relationship Management, giving it a distinct advantage in cross-selling products to customers.