Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BWFG) has announced that
Christopher Gruseke has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Company. He has also been appointed as CEO of the
Company’s subsidiary, Bankwell Bank, and to the Board of Directors of
the Company and Bank. Mr. Gruseke was a founding investor and Director
of Bankwell Financial Group’s predecessors, BNC Financial Group, Inc.,
and The Bank of New Canaan, and re-joined Bankwell Financial Group
earlier this year as Chief Strategic Officer.
Mr. Gruseke brings more than 25 years of capital markets, operations,
sales and finance experience to his role at Bankwell Financial Group.
Most recently, he was a member of the Executive Committee at CRT
Capital, a Stamford, Connecticut-based broker/dealer. He also served as
Co-Chief Operating Officer and a Member of the Board of Directors of
Greenwich Capital Markets.
“Following an extensive CEO search, the Board has determined that Chris
is uniquely qualified to meet the challenges and opportunities of this
important role,” notes Blake S. Drexler, Chairman of the Board of
Bankwell Financial Group. “He is truly a champion for the customer,”
added Drexler, “and his broad-based skills, local knowledge, leadership
and strategic vision will be invaluable as we move forward with the next
phase of our growth.” Mr. Drexler has given up his role as Executive
Chairman with Mr. Gruseke’s appointment, and will remain as Chairman of
the Board of Directors.
Mr. Gruseke is a longtime resident of New Canaan, Connecticut, where he
resides with his wife and three children. He earned a B.A. at Williams
College and an M.S. from the Stern School of Business at New York
University.
About Bankwell Financial Group
Bankwell is a commercial bank that serves the banking and lending needs
of residents and businesses throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties,
CT. For more information about this press release, interested parties
can contact Christopher Gruseke, CEO or Ernest J. Verrico, CFO of
Bankwell Financial Group at (203) 972-3838. More information can be
found at www.mybankwell.com.
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements
about the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements
regarding anticipated future events and can be identified by the fact
that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They
often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate,"
"estimate," and "intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will,"
"would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements, by
their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Certain factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected
results include increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest
rate environment, general economic conditions or conditions within the
securities markets, and legislative and regulatory changes that could
adversely affect the business in which the Company and its subsidiaries
are engaged.
Copyright Business Wire 2015