Christopher Gruseke named CEO of Bankwell

Bankwell Financial Group has named Christopher Gruseke president and CEO of the company as well as CEO of its Bankwell bank subsidiary.

Gruseke was an initial investor and director of Bankwell Financial Group”™s predecessors, BNC Financial Group Inc. and The Bank of New Canaan, and re-joined Bankwell Financial Group in January as chief strategic officer. Gruseke takes over the top job after an extensive search for a replacement for Peyton Patterson, who resigned in August after the Hartford Business Journal reported she was being sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid debts to credit card companies, country clubs and contractors.

“Following an extensive CEO search, the board has determined that Chris is uniquely qualified to meet the challenges and opportunities of this important role,” said Blake S. Drexler, chairman of the board of Bankwell Financial Group, in a press release. “His broad-based skills, local knowledge, leadership and strategic vision will be invaluable as we move forward with the next phase of our growth.”

As part of the leadership change, Drexler will vacate his role as executive chairman but will remain chairman of the board of directors of Bankwell Financial Group.

Gruseke, a New Canaan resident, was a member of the executive committee at CRT Capital, a Stamford-based broker/dealer. He also served as co-chief operating officer and a member of the board of directors of Greenwich Capital Markets. He earned a B.A. at Williams College and an M.S. from the Stern School of Business at New York University.