That’s the same order Park said the transition between president David Trautman and CEO C. Daniel DeLawder will follow. The Newark-based bank made the announcement on July 22.
Effective Jan. 1, Trautman becomes president and CEO and DeLawder becomes chairman.
The idea is to ensure a smooth transition. It’s also the same order that was followed when DeLawder became CEO.
This newspaper took the opportunity to interview both executives about the state of the bank. The local connection is Park has three area community banking divisions: Springfield’s Security National Bank, Piqua’s Unity National Bank, and Greenville’s Second National Bank.
This is excerpts from our interview with DeLawder, who has been CEO since 1999 and worked at the company since 1971:
Why is now the right time to make the top leadership transition to a new CEO at the end of 2013?
DD: "2013 will conclude 15 years for me as CEO, and I will be 64 years young this year. I wish to step down as CEO but have a few years to continue working in order to assure a full transition to David, who, (is) a 30 year Park associate, and importantly has been in a senior leadership position for Park since 1997. He is ready and able to take Park forward and I look forward to our future with David at the helm."
“Simply put, the timing seems right and the bank is in great shape to make the handoff.”
Now that the sale of Vision Bank (a Florida acquisition) was completed in 2012, how has returning to an all Ohio bank in 2013 impacted Park National?
DD: "When the agreement to sell Vision Bank was first announced on November 16, 2011, we projected the sale would allow Park to focus on reducing troubled assets while re-focusing our efforts on the historical actions that made our Ohio-based very successful. We made great strides during 2012 and the first six months of 2013 are evidence the projections are being met. We are very pleased with results."
What will the change in leadership mean for the bank going forward?
“Little if any due to 1. David’s experience and 2. our leadership team is deep, highly qualified and focused on our strategic plan.”
What are the biggest challenges currently facing the bank?
DD: "We continue to experience an exceptionally low interest rate environment coupled with more intense competition operating in a less-than-robust economy."
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