Hudson Valley Bank founder William E. Griffin announced his retirement as chairman of the bank”™s board of directors, effective immediately. Griffin steps down after leading the Yonkers bank”™s board of directors for 22 years.
Griffin, who was one of the bank”™s founding members in 1972, will be succeeded by current president and CEO James J. Landy, who was named executive chairman.
Stephen R. Brown, the bank”™s senior executive vice president, CFO and treasurer, was named president and CEO.
Both Landy and Brown will serve in their respective capacities with Hudson Valley Bank and parent company Hudson Valley Holding Corp. All appointments are effective immediately. Griffin will continue to serve on the bank’s board of directors.
During Griffin”™s tenure as chairman, the bank grew from a $313 million company with nine branches to an institution with more than $2.8 billion in assets and 36 branches in Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Fairfield County, Conn.
“He is a remarkably astute and singular leader, who never wavered from the bank”™s founding principles of providing quality products and service for local businesses and individuals in the communities we serve,” Landy said in a statement.
Landy himself has been with Hudson Valley Bank since 1977, serving as president and CEO since 2001.
Brown has been with Hudson Valley Bank since 1993, and was named senior executive vice president and CFO in 2001.