Succession planning

Glacier Bancorp in Kalispell, Mont., has named a CIT Bank executive as the likely successor to Chief Executive Mick Blodnick.

First National Bank Alaska in Anchorage has appointed Betsy Lawer as chairwoman.

World Acceptance in Greenville, S.C., one of the largest providers of installment loans, said that its longtime chairman and chief executive will retire in September.

The $447 million-asset Inland Northwest said Russell Lee will take over as CEO on June 29.

Westbound Bank in Katy, Texas, has promoted Troy England, chief lending officer, to president.

Shareholders of JPMorgan Chase voted in favor of Jamie Dimon keeping the chairman and chief executive roles. They likely fear Dimon would retire if stripped of one of the jobs.

Polonia Bancorp in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., has hired Joseph Svetik as its president and chief executive. Svetik recently served as a director of JTNB Bancorp and, before that, had been president and CEO of ESSA Bancorp.

If banking is under attack, then chief financial officers are the defenders of the realm. Equipped with the numbers, they are uniquely positioned to bring the credible answers their stakeholders seek and the changes their companies need.

They spent their formative years analyzing balance sheets saddled with problem assets. They watched their mentors struggle to keep their banks afloat through the crisis. And they took good notes.

Our new special reports and proprietary research profile the key executives flanking the CEOs at financial institutions and explore how their roles have evolved. First up: the chief financial officer.

The $129 million-asset bank said in a press release Thursday that Robert O’Donnell will remain its chairman even though he is retiring as CEO.

Comerica in Dallas has promoted Curtis Farmer to president.

Chemical Financial has retooled its organizational structure as part of the Midland, Mich., company's succession planning.

Corporate women's networks are meant to help put more women in power. But they've caught a lot of flak in recent years for failing to deliver results.

Citigroup has named Stephen Bird, chief executive of its Asia-Pacific division, to head its global consumer bank as part of a broader shuffling of executives.

First West Virginia Bancorp in Wheeling has removed the interim tag from William Petroplus' title as president and chief executive.

TCF Financial in Wayzata, Minn., has a new president. The $19.4 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that Craig Dahl had taken on the newly created post.

AmeriServ Financial in Johnstown, Pa., has a new chief executive.

Ally Bank, which has been known for online deposit-gathering and ads that poked fun at traditional banks, was the envy of some in the industry and a source of anger for others. But now it is looking to alter its business model as its struggling parent company retools.

Zions Bancorp. in Salt Lake City has hired a SunTrust Banks executive to replace Doyle Arnold, who is retiring in May as chief financial officer.