Farmers National in Ohio Dismisses CEO

Farmers National (FMNB) in Canfield, Ohio, is getting rid of its chief executive.

The $1.1 billion-asset company said Friday that its board had relieved John Gulas of his duties, effective Nov. 4. Kevin Helmick will serve as interim president and CEO of Farmers National and its bank while the company searches for a permanent replacement.

Gulas, 54, became president and CEO in July 2010, according to the company's latest proxy filing. He had been Farmers' chief operating officer since 2008. Earlier, he was CEO of Sky Trust in Ohio, and he has held executive roles at Wachovia and KeyCorp's bank.

Helmick, 41, is Farmers' secretary and an executive vice president for retail and wealth management at the bank.

Farmers earnings for the first half of this year fell 21% from a year earlier, to $3.9 million. The company earned $9.9 million in 2012.

Farmers agreed to buy National Associates, an Ohio employee-benefits consultant, in June.

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