Succession planning

The pace of bank mergers and acquisitions has slowed of late as bank stock values have plummeted, but expect it to pick up as 2016 wears on. Here's why.

Kevin Champagne stepped down from the $857 million-asset company on Feb. 29, according to a Friday news release. He also retired as chairman of Atlantic Coast Bank.

The head of Midland States Bancorp in Effingham, Ill., is handing off one of his handful of titles to concentrate more on the big picture.

DCB Financial in Lewis Center, Ohio, has given its chief executive the added title of chairman.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., has given its top lawyer additional duties after another executive's retirement.

Cascade Bancorp in Bend, Ore., has named a new bank president and chief operating officer, as its chief executive hands over some of his leadership responsibilities.

Goldsmith died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., a City National spokeswoman said Monday.

Armada, a technology consulting firm in Tulsa, has hired as its president Frank McKeon, a former IBM executive who consulted with banks.

Benjamin Bochnowski will be named chief executive of both the holding company and the $865 million-asset Peoples Bank at the bank's April 28 annual meeting.

Poage Bankshares in Ashland, Ky., has promoted Thomas Burnette to chairman of the boards of the company and its Town Square Bank subsidiary.

Bridgewater Savings Bank in Raynham, Mass., said that its chief executive, James Lively, will retire on Dec. 5 and that Peter Dello Russo, its president and chief operating officer, will succeed him.

Malvern Bancorp in Paoli, Pa., has named Howard Kent chairman of the company and of the $727 million-asset Malvern Federal Savings Bank.

Fauquier Bankshares in Warrenton, Va., has named a North Carolina community banker as its new chief executive.

Barclays' investment bank chief, Tom King, plans to retire as soon as next month, said people with knowledge of the plans.

Correcting misperceptions about banking, in addition to focusing on recruitment efforts, will help fix an apparent rupture in the talent pipeline.

Sanford "Sandy" Weill, the former head of Citigroup, has stepped down as chairman of Hamilton Insurance Group in Bermuda.

Glen Burnie Bancorp in Maryland has appointed a successor to its outgoing president and chief executive.

Evans, soon to retire as CEO of Cullen/Frost Bankers, believes his company is well positioned to withstand the fallout from low oil prices. He is advising his successor to avoid the temptation to panic and focus on the long view.

Lighthouse Bank in Santa Cruz, Calif., has brought back one of its co-founders to become its president. The $176 million-asset bank said in a press release that Jon Sisk had become its president on Monday.

Cross Keys Bank in St. Joseph, La., has named a new president and elected a new chairman.