Bank of America plans to put one of its top executives in charge of consumer real estate once it completes the acquisition of Countrywide Financial Corp., scrapping previous plans to have a Countrywide executive lead the mortgage business.

Barbara Desoer, the bank's chief technology and operations officer, will become president of consumer real estate operations, the company announced Wednesday.

Desoer previously headed consumer products and marketing at Bank of America, which included mortgages, and operated a previous incarnation of the bank's retail bank branch system in California.

She will report directly to Bank of America Chief Executive Ken Lewis, making her the company's highest-ranking bank official in California, said Bob Stickler, a bank spokesman.

The consumer real estate business would be based in Calabasas, where Countrywide is now headquartered.

Previous plans called for David Sambol, Countrywide's president and chief operating officer, to lead the combined company's mortgage business. Under the new plan, Sambol will retire after helping with the transition.

Lewis said in a statement that the success of the Countrywide acquisition was critical to Bank of America.

"Current economic and business conditions have highlighted the need for strong and focused executive leadership with a deep understanding of the Bank of America culture and operating model," he said.

Bank of America had been criticized for its earlier decision to retain Sambol. At Federal Reserve Board hearings about the acquisition, speakers said it was not reassuring that Sambol would lead the mortgage business after Countrywide's business had fallen so low from the subprime lending collapse.

Bank of America's roughly $4 billion stock offer to buy Countrywide has been under close scrutiny since the companies announced the deal in January. It would make Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America the nation's largest mortgage lender and the nation's largest consumer bank.

Countrywide, the country's largest mortgage lender, has been caught in a downward spiral that some worry could drag down Bank of America.

A special meeting will take place June 25 for Countrywide shareholders to vote on the deal.

In March, Bank of America disclosed in a regulatory filing that it would pay Sambol $28 million to stay with the company after the takeover. Stickler said Sambol would be eligible for the payment despite Wednesday's retirement announcement.

He said the bank's change of course was not a move against Sambol, but about getting a more senior executive over consumer real estate operations.

"We didn't react to political or any other kind of pressure," he said. "This was a move to put one of the most senior executives at Bank of America in charge of an operation that has tremendous opportunity for us."

He acknowledged the Countrywide acquisition bears a lot of risk, which makes it doubly important to have someone who is not only experienced with the bank's organization, but also "well-versed in the Bank of America culture."

The new course creates a different structure than the previous plan. While Sambol would have been several layers down in the organization, Desoer reports directly to the CEO, Stickler noted.

"In effect, the mortgage operation has been heightened in importance," he said.

The Greenlining Institute, which has spoken out about corporate responsibility in the foreclosure crisis, had been highly critical of the selection of Sambol to lead the mortgage business, said Bob Gnaizda, general counsel for the institute.

Gnaizda said Sambol was a strong supporter of the exotic mortgages that got so many people into hot water and that Bank of America would have set a bad example hiring someone who symbolized low standards.

He called the change "a very wise decision by the BofA."

He also commended the selection of Desoer, saying she was highly respected by many at the institute.

"She understands the difference between doing a good job and a great job," he said.

The change was part of a larger announcement that Bank of America was creating a new consumer banking management structure that would enable the company to pursue growth in key areas.

Bank of America executives Liam McGee will continue as president of the consumer and small-business bank, and Bruce Hammonds will be president of credit card and unsecured lending.

They also will report directly to the CEO.

Bank of America shares fell 30 cents, to $33.87, Wednesday, while Countrywide shares rose 39 cents, to $4.98.

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.