L. Thomas Bulla, president and CEO of Bank One West Virginia, Charleston, is leaving the Banc One Corp. umbrella after less than a year to take the same titles at $72 million-asset First National Bank in Ronceverte, W. Va.
He had been president of the Banc One unit's predecessor, $406 million-asset Charleston National Bank. Banc One bought Charleston National's parent, Key Centurion Bancshares, in the second quarter.
Mr. Bulla became head of the Charleston bank in 1985, after Centurion Bancorp merged with Key Bancshares of West Virginia to form the state's first billion-dollar financial organization.
"Over the past 31 years, some of my goals have been to climb the corporate ladder, increase my responsibilities and reap the rewards that come with accomplishing these goals," Mr. Bulla said in a press release. "Having reached the point in my life where my priorities have changed, these goals are no longer on the top of my list."
He said the pending retirement of William M. Dickson, First National's president and CEO for 35 years, had presented "an interesting opportunity."
"The changes taking place at Banc One West Virginia Corp. are very positive and will be extremely good for our state and the banking community," Mr. Bulla said. "The new and expanding products and services that will be offered will be very beneficial to customers."
Marshall T. Reynolds, chairman of Banc One West Virginia Corp., said in the statement that Mr. Bulla "typifies the type of executive we needed to move this organization forward."
"He is the kind of guy that makes things happen," Mr. Reynolds said. "We recognized his many strengths while he was with Huntington Trust and Savings Bank, and his excellent leadership at Charleston further confirmed our opinion of him. Ronceverte is fortunate to have been able to attract a man of Tom's outstanding skills."
