Racine-based Johnson Bank has named Gus Hernandez president of the Milwaukee metropolitan market.
Hernandez joined Johnson Bank in February 2013 as a senior commercial banking manager. He has 25 years of financial services experience, most recently as managing director at BMO Harris Bank in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.
He holds a bachelor’s in finance and marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MBA from Marquette University.
The bank is making a push for growth in the state’s largest market, and Hernandez will provided added leadership. Hernandez will be responsible for the growth and success of all the bank’s business lines in the increasingly important Milwaukee market, said Thomas Bolger, chief executive officer.
“(Hernandez) has quickly assumed increasing responsibilities as a manager and new business developer,” Bolger said. “He understands and appreciates the way we do business and the approach we take to serving our customers.”
Peter Engel, who had served as executive vice president of consumer banking and president of the Milwaukee market since July 2011, will now focus on his corporate responsibilities in the EVP role.
“Two years ago I asked Peter Engel to take on the Milwaukee president’s role in addition to his corporate responsibilities,” Bolger said. “Peter joined with Brad Quade, Mike Derdzinski and other Milwaukee leaders for Johnson Bank to work on building a strong and vibrant team of experienced bankers across all business lines. They have done a great job of building and integrating the team to position Johnson Financial Group for substantial growth.”
“We are at a point in our growth that we need Peter to focus actively in helping lead our strategic direction,” Bolger said. “Peter will shift his focus to our consumer businesses: retail banking, private banking, financial advisory and residential mortgage lending, as well as overseeing our marketing efforts. Peter will remain a visible leader in the greater Milwaukee community and continue to work with Gus, Brad and our entire Johnson Bank team.”
