Clifton Savings in New Jersey Hires President, CEO

Clifton Savings Bancorp (CSBK) in Clifton, N.J., has selected its next chairman, chief executive and president.

Paul Aguggia, 50, will take over as the $1 billion-asset company's chairman, CEO and president on Jan. 1. Aggugia, who will have the same roles at Clifton Savings Bank, is chairman of law firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. He has been Clifton's primary legal counsel for more than a decade.

Aguggia will succeed John Celentano as the company's chairman and CEO. He will also replace Walter Celuch as the company's president. Celentino and Celuch are retiring, the company said.

"We are deeply indebted to [Celentano and Celuch] for their service to Clifton Savings and to the communities that we support," Clifton's board said in a press release. "Since becoming a public company nearly a decade ago, they have guided the company with a steady hand through turbulent times and have well positioned the company for future growth and success. We wish them all the best in their retirement. We welcome [Aggugia] to the board and look forward to his leadership as we continue with our plans to move forward with our second-step and transition to a fully public company."

Clifton's majority stockholder is Clifton MHC, a federally chartered mutual holding company. It first announced plans to pursue a second-step conversion in late 2010. In May 2012, it began taking steps to win regulatory approval to become a 100% stock-owned company.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Community banking New Jersey
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER