First Niagara’s aggressive expansion into the Nutmeg State continued with the poaching of an exec from Farmington Bank.

The Buffalo-based bank said it has hired John K. Jepson Jr.  to lead its commercial lending efforts in northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

Jepson, who has been with Farmington Bank since 2004, was named vice president of commercial lending for that region, First Niagara announced today.

In that position, Jepson will develop and manage commercial lending for middle market firms. He will work out of the bank’s Manchester and Windsor offices. Jepson lives in Hebron.

In a statement, First Niagara Senior Vice President James Bzdyra said, "John’s experience working with middle market companies and his knowledge of the local market made him a great fit for this position."

Jepson is a graduate of Boston University and the University of Harvard.