OceanFirst Financial Corp., Red Bank-based parent of OceanFirst Bank N.A., has promoted Chief Operating Officer Joseph Lebel to president, it announced this week.
Lebel will take over the president’s duties from Christopher Maher, who will remain chairman and CEO of the bank and its parent. Lebel will also join the board of directors, with both appointments effective Jan. 1.
“Joe and I have worked closely together to build our business over the past seven years, and, during that time, he has demonstrated exceptional skills as a banker and an executive officer,” Maher said in a prepared statement. “The bank is fortunate to have his continuing leadership in this new and expanded role.”
Lebel, who joined the bank in 2006, currently serves as executive vice president and COO after having held the chief banking officer and chief lending officer posts.
In addition to his current oversight of all operating regions, business lines and back-office operations, he will add responsibility for commercial credit functions in his new role.
