Leadership change at Peoples Bank
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Munster-based Finward Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWD), the parent of Peoples Bank, says Executive Chairman David Bochnowski will retire at the end of June. He’ll be succeeded by his son, President and CEO Benjamin Bochnowski, as chairman of Finward’s board of directors.
The holding company says the appointment is the result of the implementation of its normal succession planning process.
David Bochnowski joined the company in 1981. He has been the executive chairman since 2016. Prior to that, he served as CEO of the Bancorp and Chairman of the Board for 35 years.
“Throughout the many challenges of rapidly changing customer preferences and the ups and downs of numerous business cycles, a Great Recession, and a pandemic, Peoples Bank has remained faithful to our one hundred thirteen-year legacy of community banking excellence. I shall always be grateful for this opportunity and thank our customers and the dedicated Peoples team for their support in all my endeavors,” said David Bochnowski.
Ben Bochnowski joined the bancorp in 2010. Three years later he was named executive vice president and chief operating officer. He named CEO in 2016.
This is the second announced departure of a Finward executive over the past month. On Jan. 6, Finward announced Leane Cerven will retire as executive vice president, chief risk officer, general counsel and corporate secretary of Peoples Bank and Finward Bancorp effective May 5.
She joined the company in 2010 as general counsel.