PITTSFIELD, MA –November 2, 2015 – Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) announced today that Shawn Howard will lead investment strategies for the bank as its new Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager. In addition, Tom Barney, First Vice President, Wealth Advisor and Colleen Lussier, Vice President, Wealth Advisor have joined the Wealth Management Team. These additions represent a continued focus on providing convenient, fully integrated investment and money management solutions to Berkshire Bank customers.
Howard has over 20 years of financial experience, with nearly 16 years in the asset management space as a Portfolio Manager; he was most recently at TD Bank in the Private Client Group, Springfield, MA, where he managed investment portfolios for high-net worth individuals, non-profit organizations, and institutional clients. He served in a similar capacity at Evergreen Investments and Mellon Private Asset Management Companies. Howard is a graduate of Bryant College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He also earned a Masters of Business Administration from Boston College.
Barney, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ for over 30 years, has rejoined the Berkshire Bank wealth management team after retiring in 2011. Prior to his retirement, Barney led the team for seventeen years growing the division to almost $700 million in assets. Barney previously served as Vice President for Fleet Investment Services in Hartford, CT as well as Vice President and Private Banker for Bank of Boston in Pittsfield, Springfield and Hartford, CT. Barney was on the board and served as president of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County. He is a graduate of the National Trust School and Trust Management School at Northwestern University.
Lussier also joins the bank from TD Bank where she was a wealth advisor for over 16 years. Her expertise is concentrated in areas of trust and estate planning, business succession and contract law. She is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor and a Registered Financial Consultant. Lussier is a graduate of Chatham College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Cannon Financial Institute. She will assist in developing client relationships as well as trust and estate administration.
“Berkshire Bank is a strong, well-capitalized financial institution that continues to invest in Wealth Management with the addition of talented team members and resources to support our clients’ financial goals,” stated Sean Gray, Chief Operating Officer of Berkshire Bank. “We are delighted to add experienced professionals in these important roles and know that Shawn, Tom and Colleen share Berkshire Bank’s commitment to a customer focused approach.”
“Tom, Colleen and I are focused on continuing Berkshire Bank’s tradition of providing extraordinary services on a local level. We want our customers to have access to the very best investment and financial planning advice in a way that is convenient,” said Howard. “Our team stands ready to offer our services to clients in local Wealth Management offices, branches or their home or office.”
Howard, Barney and Lussier are located in Berkshire Bank’s Lenox Main Office at 25 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240. Shawn Howard, SVP, Chief Investment Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager 413-881-1205, showard@berkshirebank.com. Tom Barney, FVP, Wealth Advisor, 413-881-1211, tbarney@berkshirebank.com. Colleen Lussier, VP, Wealth Advisor, 413-881-1207, clussier@berkshirebank.com.
BACKGROUND
Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank, America’s Most Exciting Bank®. The Company, recognized for its entrepreneurial approach and distinctive culture, has $7.8 billion in assets and 93 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. In 2015, Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts’ Most Charitable Companies by the Boston Business Journal. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com or call 800-773-5601. Berkshire Bank is the official bank of NESN’s Boston Bruins Coverage.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are several factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from expectations described in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of such factors, please see Berkshire’s most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Berkshire does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.
CONTACTS
Investor Relations Contact
Allison O’Rourke; Executive Vice President, Investor Relations Officer; 413-236-3149
Media Contact
Heidi Higgins; Assistant Vice President, Marketing; 413-236-3756