Tom Bolger, who was one of Harris Bank’s top Wisconsin executives until he left Harris in May, has been hired as chief executive officer of Racine-based Johnson Bank and its parent company Johnson Financial Group.
Russ Weyers, who has been CEO of Johnson Bank, remains with the bank as president and also continues as president of Johnson Financial. Weyers had succeeded Richard Hansen in January as CEO of the Racine-based bank and ohnson Financial Group.
Bolger is a 40-year veteran of the banking industry in Wisconsin and Illinois, including a 30-year stint at Milwaukee-based M&I Bank. He was president of M&I when he left in 2004 when then-chief financial officer Mark Furlong was named president. Bolger led Harris Bank in Wisconsin starting in October 2007.
Harris Bank parent BMO Financial is buying M&I parent Marshall & Ilsley Corp., resulting in a series of management changes at both banks. Bolger last month declined to comment on the reason he left Harris Bank.
"We are at a pivotal moment in our evolution and with his 40 years of financial services experience, Tom is the right leader at the right time to help us reach the next level of operational effectiveness and efficiency," said Helen Johnson-Leipold, chair of Johnson Financial Group. "His intimate knowledge of the competitive landscape will also be key in helping us maximize our unique market opportunities."
