Northwest Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, has a new CEO.
The $14 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that Louis Torchio will also serve as its president. Torchio, who joined the company in 2018, recently served as senior executive vice president of retail lending and business banking.
Before he joined Northwest, Torchio held senior leadership and executive committee posts at Charter One Bank, Bank One and Mellon Bank.
At Northwest, Torchio supervised the expansion of the company’s residential lending and indirect lending groups. He also launched an initiative to develop and expand the business banking and Small Business Administration lending divisions.
Torchio succeeded William Harvey, Jr., who had been interim president and CEO since the unexpected death of Ronald Seiffert in May. Harvey, who remains chief financial officer, was named chief operating officer.
Torchio and Harvey were appointed to the Northwest board. Timothy Fannin, who has been serving as interim chairman since Seiffert’s death, will retain that post.
“Lou’s strong familiarity with our organization and depth of industry experience make him the ideal person to lead Northwest Bank into its next era as a growing, successful and independent financial institution,” Fannin said in the release.
“As we continue to execute our strategic plan, the board … and I are excited about what the future holds for Northwest under the extremely capable leadership of Lou, Bill and the rest of our Northwest executive leadership team,” Fannin added.